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Thoaa too larga to ba ontiraiy iniehidad in ona axpoaura ara filmad baginning in tita uppar laft liand comar, laft to right and top to bottom, aa many framaa aa raquirad. Tlia following diagrama iliuatrata tha mathod: c X 3 2X l«s cartaa, planchas. tablaaux. ate. pauvant Atra filmis A das taux da rAduction diffArants. Lorsqua la document aat trap grancTpour Atra raproduit an un saul clichA.il ast filmA A partir da Tanigla'AupAriaur gaucha. da gaucha A droita. at da haut an bas, an pranant la nombra d'imagas nAcassairA.^l.as diagrammas suivants iiiustrant la- mAthodo. Mi 5 6 -■^ (S ■ . ^ \h '\ \ \n. « ,/ ■ '. -" ■ - $■ . 4 ■ .-5 'l^ I I r I \ '■.rs. \ ; , 7 / ^^ \ • • ' ./ ,L->:' -,. # \.: '# ,« .*c- \/ • • 1 •' . -1^ ■€^,l «i^. ' %- 1 I Af. i \ r S i- ■■ • . . ■ / f • 1 j:. ■ . ■ \ ! i ' • • ■ . !■ f J ' " ^ • ^ _ _ ^A 1 '^K ' 1^^^ .I'a^ "■*_„ ....,., , _ ^^ ^^ OUAPTEB VIL a Klida-Vlalted by Mr. llacdonald In Isn-Extnwta (torn hia JuumaL , 106 ^Q^nt6.3f/3't>^ K ^, » ** .A • /H \. . ^" CONTENTS. OUAPTKAVIII. D*tMnjtac»IIfroin Edinburgh -I-n-Mhe. In London- nevUit.st. kll^^... Tl . ■ ' ' . ■ . " '■ OIIAPTEK f X. . 1^ VWulreUnd-ReTWuSI. KildM... 160 CHAPTER X. Ivangvllrtlft work— Anecdotes- JournaU '^, ,o- ' ' f OUAPTKUXI. I>om«iHc lift- Bale, fbr the employment of Hme-Correipond?nce with his sun..i V • : m ouAPTSR xa. 1 Bis aasoelates .mong the ministers of the norths Dr. BiynelMr. Uchian Mackensle-Dr. Macltintosh-Mr. Forbes-Mr. Maeadan-Mr. Fraser- Dr. Stewart- Mr. Kennedy-Awocialiona ;. ,jj^ OHAPTKR XIII. lai-Disraption tlmea-Inremess Assembly ,. ,^ CHAPTER XIV. _ days- Death. Charaettr. . ... f ■* ■ '^ 4- -- • ' -„^ . i .f ' • -> - ;, ■(*<■ » ■i vj , ■o ./•. \ ^ ' -■■.■;.-.- ■ *;- « >* '. ,.■■ ,j^.. ._ .. A - \ ■■ ■ ' . - ■ j I III '.H I I 'l l a il. APOSTLE OF THE NORTH. CHAPTER I. \ • - ' ' ■ , ' DR. MACpOXALD'g FATHEK— OUMPSU OF HIM DDRtlfO Hlg MFE— IIM l^EATH— UI8 CHARACTER AS DESCRIBED BY HIS SOX. ^ the gloaming of an evening in the year ^ ^^^'JL^'**""^ "**"' Jow-sized and strong- fi^»n^|piI>ose face — round, swarthy, and Expressive — wa^ lighted up by keen, dark -^ eyes, might have been seen approaching the door of one of the cottages in a hamlet^ in the parish of Kil- donan. ITiat cottage is hi& lowljr home. He is «; unwashed and uncombed ; his dretis is homespun and torn ; and the lines which streaming teai-s have made still streak his face ; but his countenance is^ bright- ened by the expression of a joy, which till lately his heart had never known. He is returning fn>ni tlie lonely hill-side, whei-e he hai spent the m^^t of the day in prayer. Only a. few days have passed II ».^ \ I(» 4- WQ^D IS SEASON. r> "iuoe he, for the first time, « tasted that the L... J lather, then m his eighteenth year. A few years later, James M«Klonald, ndw a mairied man. mjght have been seen among the .o^^^^^t m the chureh at C«ich. Mr. Rose is in the pXit JTiere is no^kam of gladness now on James' feV leart He sit, m darkness, and his downcaSt look MU how feel^e is hi, hope that light shall arise on h m agaia But how fixed his attention has become'- The preacher has described,a.9«e whicWw, reoogiJises . H^k ng Christ, but thou shalt not find him here On thy return home, retire at once- to thy wonted . place ot prayer, and He whom thou seekest shall' there mee with thy soul. Satan will tr;^ to intercept thee; but beware of yielding to his temptation." fhe service over, James returned home, pondering by the way the advice which had been given On coming within sight of his house, he observed two- - of his neighbours standing together, before the door Approaching nearer, he dis«overed that they had Uuarrelled, wd heard in Uieir angry utterunces. threats •IjTT'f- 'T ^'^^^e the Counsel «»^en to him in the church at Creich, he hu^ied past thS disputants to his pmying nook In the barn and ere he left it, he could say, •■ My beloved m mine, and I am hia" ^. ,,. _ ..^ lU ^ ■ \ -, ^ . / THE EMIGRANT SHIP. 11 f^^- Iii the yeai- 1770; Japes/might liay,6 h^en seei seated beside fi table, in tf large batn, in >the parish of.Reay, surrounded jby a crowd. He i§ engaged in examining ''the peorae, for lie lias, been .appointed catechise of the pMsh» . All eyes Are fixed upon him, .for he never miled to arrest and sustain th irers. How lucid is his brie attentiph of his h expomibn of the tlnswer given 'from the Shorter Catechism ! How] apparent is . the drift of his ^questions ^ in croiB-examination ! How paticnfly he deald with that ignorant old man! ^ How ten- derly -he jbfeats that tiaid youth,! How he rises in the series of questions put to that for^^j self- confident fellpv^ til^ hie has silenced him aV last, mud Ufts^ h^ feel that he is [wise only in his cTwn conceit! , . . An emigrant ship had been caught by a storm ofi the Caithness 6oast. She was hastening^ towards the frowning . rocks that fence Ifche northern ;>, shor^ Almost all on board were on tlidr knees uttering loud cries for m0rcy, and some were driven 6y the storm to pray, whose oath\had been the }oude^t in the caliQ. Sit- ting quie^y among them was James MacdonaId,,un-. ruffled^ hopeful, and resigned. Oncrx>f the jMssengera observing him, said, "You haixlene^ godless man, why don^ y6u prayi " " I pity tho^,'* was James* answer/ ''who never prayed till tQ-ni|fet" Tlie vessel was at this waa his fi«t and u last attempt to leave his native land. v On an evening, in the year 1775, James Mac • donald, now a widower, is seated alOne in his room when a pious neighbour entem HU friend, anxious about James' comfort, ha^ been pmying to the Lord to provide for him a second wife. He has never broached the subject to the catechist. and he himself has n^ver thought of it. But his friend is pressed and encouraged to speak about it now; and this is the object of his present visit. After a good deal of :*hying and fencing, the proposal is at last fairly made '• Lnever thought of such a thing," James said, but I will consider it: \5all back again." After'a few days his friend returned. "What now," he asked, "do yoii think of my proposal?" "I am quite ready to many," he said, " if I got a wife from the Lord ; but I know not where to seek for one." His fnend was prepared to help him in his seaixjh and proposed to accompany him to a certain family Away they went together, and entered the house where the young woman lived whom his friend had set apart for the catechist. The mother is requested to call the daughter into the room. When she -*?>«v V*^*""^' *'^^^ ^'^ fr^«"^' "Is this Bher V^ .;Ir *^«^« your second wife." , was the reply. ^ ^^ She would require to be better ihan she looks" • luVnAO uoiJ _A 11... ' I V. :^^ James said, after looking towardR l..r :ma. jMm- ► J '^T^ I #^1- jj^k«f,^f •WwwitKrrr.i BETWEKX TWO FIRES. 13 said aloud ; and regarding the catechist's remark »a the reverse of coraplimentary) the damsel iii a huff left the room. But the marriage was arranged befori they went away, and took place soon afWr. This |second wife, was Dr. Macdonald's mother, and he wis her second child, j^ V In, James' day,, in CaillRess,. a true follower of Christ hfui, ecclesiastically, a difficult part to act. His jsafe CQurse was a narrow one, jietween two opposing parties, both of whom inrould" try to draw him to. their side; If h^ remained in the Establish- ment, he was in danger of countenancing men, who craved the office of flijB ministry, merely that thereby they might earn a stipend, and who employed the stipend in degrading |he office by which they had acquired it If he jo|ied the Separatists, who had ceased to hear the iriinisters of the Established Church, he would *^ forsake his "mother's house," where he had been born again, and fed with " the sincere milk of the word." In either case he would encounter a double opposition. The two classes of ministers would oppose him if he seceded, and if he remained in the church, and was faithful, both the Separatists and the Moderates would be against him. He chose i;o remain in his " mother's house ; " and he so conducted himself there, as to secure the con- fidence and affection of the godly, and the respect of the ungodly, ministers around him ; and at the same X' -.- .4 ti nici to i ft ai u t he r espect, a a ft tribute lo-KiTmir :.« / •■/ i i t f II I 1 ' ' 1 '■'. ( I M i i ■» U r ADVICE AS TO PRAYRR. doubted godliness, of those who were loudest in denouncing the abuses of the chi|rch. On his • way t^m^jK^after jxAing in the com- munion services |n V neighbouring parish, he called for John Gran^t/the acknowledged leader of the Separatists, fo^whom he cherished the mo^t affec- tionate respect! John, knowing where he had been, received him fery gruffly. James resolved to have " the first wq;^ of flyting," asked him, why he hnd not been at the communion. « Because," he replied, •• the Lord told me not to go, and if you would take my advice, you would not go yourself." "Well, John," James said, " when you are asked, at the last day, why you were not there, you can look up to the Judge and say, ' Thou thyself didst forbid my going;' but if I remained at home, I could only reply, when aaked the same question, * John Grant told me not to go,' and this you will allow would be but a poor apology.". And he added, '! When my coat gets some dirty spots upon it, I count it too precious to cast it, oi^that account, aside ; I rather stick to it, and strive to make it clean. You must allow me to count my church more precious thaii my coat ; and though I see many stains upon it, I will not cast it off." His son often quoted an advice once given by James to a pious man who had wearied him by a tedious prayer. "If you have liberty in public pi-ayer," he said, " be short, for there witt be few to follow you ; and if you are in bondage be short, for { ( ' ■/ i JAMES MACDONALD's LAST DA vi 15 if not, you will weary yourself and ^thers." « Then you would have me to be always short^'^ " Just so " James said; and-his own practice linyaiJlaWaccorded with his counsel. u \ He lived to see his son a minfater, and ev^ his son's strength began to wane b^ore his father's dkth which took place in 1 830. His age was th^n ninefc- five, and spventy-seven of these years he was ik Chnst During this protracted Christian course, his garments were kept unspotted, the dew of heaven kept fresh the savour of his godliness, the vigour of his mteUect remained unbroken, and the Lord con- tmued to employ and bless him in His service. ^During the last eight years of his life he was quite blind. His second wife had died before this dark- ness feU upon him, but the blind iridower retained his cheerfulness, and the joy that reached his heart from heaven kept its wonted gleam upon his face. An elderly woman attended on hirt, with whom he could maintain the closest Christian intercourse She* was much given to prayer, counted it an honour to do what she could for the aged saint, and when he was Yemoved from her, she pined and pmyed for the summons to follow him, until the hour of her de- parture came. A few years before his death. Sir John Sinclair wished him to come to Ulbster Castle, promising to give him quiet apartmgpts for himself, wherelie might spend his last da ygfP comfort. J^maa ,ui,^,, ,, ,^ iV I I'll r .4. ( i :4i ^' ,16 FATHKR AND SON. grateful for the baronet's kindness, declined to leave his own lowly cottage, saying, " Where I sinned, there must I die/* When seize<3 by his last illness, he said, " If it be the Lord's will, I would like to be on my death-bed jutft as long as my Saviour .was in tlie grave." And so it was ; on the third day after he was taken ill, he died His connection with Dr. Macdonald would justifjf*^ a fuller account of the worthy catechist of Reay ; and could it' be given, it is due to his own worth and eminence. It would be the more interesting but at the same time the mojre unnecessary to do so, ^because the father's character was rej)roduced in his son, though seen in him in a different position, and modified by change of circumstance& It is interest' "^ ing to trace , a resemblance between the faces of a father and his son ; if their forms are like as well, ' (ill the more pleasing is the result of the comparison ; if, besides, mind resembles miad in sire and son; if the disposition of the one finds its counterpart in.- that of the other; if, moreovet*, both parent and Ohild are alike the sons of God; and if, withal, the Lord hath dealt with both according to the same mode of operation in dispensing to them his grace, a resemblance almost unique is then discovered. It was so in the case of this father and this son ; so that much would be anticipated, that must be written in describing the son, if a sketch of the father's character were attempted. Instead of doing wn^ thn 1118) .*i!J TlIB CHRISTIAli ON HIS WAY TO JORDAN. ir following translatiotf, in unrhymea and unfitting English, of his son's descriptioii of him is given. Most unconsciously, but most &ithfully, did Jie portray some features of his bwn character, Wlliie givfijg us this portmit of his fether, in his d^lic poem entitled, " The Christian on his Way to Jordan." "I remember, for in the young momvag of my day i knew, men famous in, the life and fight of faith^ whose hearts would accord the crown to the great Captain of salvation, and give to bun the un- divided glory. Among those blessed ones who mn the race unblemished, there was one of whom I am now to make special mention. It were well my part^ and it is in my heart to do so; for he was my father according to the flesh, and my stay in the > days of my youth. To him the Lord was early very^ merciful ih regenerating him, and giving" him the knowledge of Christ Before the age of twenty years, he poured out his Spirit on him; putting on liiin the seal and the beauty of holiness never to be removed. " Jiis natural endowments were romarkable. His intellect was lively and vigorous; but strong and active though were his mental poweni, it was grace that turned them to account This sharpened and shaped them, and raised them heavenward; and, as the Water does to the well-adjusted machinery of th# mill, set them a working. Many boast of their ^^^'?ts; but of what avail are tliey if th» Trrir ^ jwami- it^^Vj . «' it I 1 n \ ■i .1 1 i 1 f ■' H A ^1 ■J ;J M 18 THE CHRISTIAN ON HW WAY TO JORDAN breath of jife be not ia them ; thiy are but as the bones whiclh lay scattered and dry on the valley the largest no better than the meanest of them all. J But let the genial breath come on them from the four winds of heaven, and lo ! the scattered bones cpme together, and rise up a^living army. So are eminent gifts under the praiseworthy working Hi the Lord. " The Lord unstintingly dealt out to him the oil of grace, and on his soul it continued to descend from day to day — the portion always doubled when he was on his knees. Often each day were those knees bent, and his soul refreshed before the throne of grace, for the Spirit of prayer kept him near the throne. Well do I remember how li^jfas wont to kneel on hill and vale. The anointing which came on him from above, kept his spirit tender and con- trite, and seasoned his speech. This, too, gave him spiritual alertness in religious duties, and kept him steadfast in the cause of Christ. - " In his office as catechist. he for many years was Y faithful, assiduous, and untiring in his work. Never slpw to begin, and never tedious when he did begin, none could sleep when he was speaking. How lively and dear his expositions were ! Never posing with hard questions, he gave suitable and profitable instruction. Capable of conceiving clearly the idea ^ before his mind, he never failed to give it clear and fitting expression. Well cho^n and apt were his words, and always fraught witji wisdom. ■•■V o THE CHHISTIAX ON HIS WAY TO JORDAN, 1» " He was li cheerful Christian., Whatever his own ftUte of feeling might be. none saw W frown upon his face. His desiro ever was to coniinend Christ to others, and to exhibit the beauty of godliness. Often has he told tp some that it was his Jniyer to heaven to be enabled to keep a cheerful face Wer a hard heart Many could testify that as he aied, so it was given him; and verily this was the, m^ns of increasing his usefulness in the vineyard of the^rd. An aflfectation of seriousness— the grim face, an J\the [querulous, heartless groan—he never could endu iHe could distinguish between the fragrance of a roken heart and its counterfeit, and th<^ who savoured of it were always dear to him. ciear was his discernment of a work of grace, and of the difference between death and life; but he was always charitable in his judgments, leaving it to Him to \ijf om alone it appertains to make a pejfect separa- tibn between the precious and the vile. He neater loured to winnow with too strong a wind, lest whenti njlght be scattered with the chaff. He preferred to leive some chaff among the wheat than to send the se^d away with the husk. * "He learned to live by faith, and not to walk by sight, OP to lean upon experience. Christ as revealed in ^he truth, and not his own attainments, was the foubdation of his faith. Tfa be Kyely in his feelings he always desired, but h^ counted it but poor fare to liv4 upon them. But wh en f a ith wka rcc civiBi i t ,Y- -..-^l* t'' 1-:, Ml — Li'' ■f'l, I to TilB CHRISTIAN APPROACHING JORDAN. il ; 'V flesh waa always pinched, and experience feasting His was indeed the faith which is of the operation of the Spirit, which cleaves to Christ on the warrant of the word, which goes out to him with the empty vessel through the pliess, and never returns without good newa This was the fiiith through which the saints bare trials and endured to ii|B end, that would receiv^LDO voice or vision instead of the written word, but found rest in the truth and came nigh to Qod. This faith in him prevailed against guilty corruption, and temptation, contending till it triumphed in many a fierce conflict, and withstanding every storm that broke upon his sou|. T^i^t he was no stranger to unbelief he himself would acknowledge, yet he did not cheridhit nor listen to its lying talea He con- fronted the lying prophet with the truth of th^ promise, before which he always played the coward and was dumb. - " With steadfastness, peace, and earnestness he walked on in thjO life of faith, watchful, and giving no offence by word or act. In secret and in public communing with God, he was much loved by, and he greatly loved His people. " He did not forget that, ius were his fathers, so was he a pilgrim on the^^arth; that his rest waa above; that his day was shortening and would soon come to an end; and that his great business was to prepare for his eternal home. Many days were given him to make up his life — for his age was ninety- THE CHKiSTIAN AT JORDAN. 21 five yedrs— but Iiis strength was not abated to tli« end ; and as death came near, his soul, ripening fast for glorjf, was longing much to reach it. Much had the Lord done for him since first he met him, preserving Ijis mental vigour from decay, and from reproach his name. His light shone brightly throughout all his course, and ho dimness paled it as he brieathed his * last;*^ ^ ^ :fei" i:; m 4f \ r' ' * •« ■ \ ■ -^, .■ ..■ ■- \ I ' * > 1 ; a ■ > - « m 1 1 ♦> • » ■ ;• ": '. • ■ 1 f. ■ " » . [ - 1 ■^ .■ :■ ( !| r- Nv 'iV • CHAPTER II. HIS BIRTH— BAPTKN— SCHOOL DATS— COLLEOE DAYS— CONTEBSIOX-; MIS rATOrail^B MINISTBR, MB. ROBERTSOff. [R MACDONALD was born on the 12tli of November 1779. On tliat day liis father was from home, being engaged in his work as catechist in a distant part of > :| the porish, and the young folks took advantage of his absence to join in the out-door amusements of ^ Halloweven, The taiother was thus deserted by all the members of the household, and the only one present with her when her second fion was born was a pious widow, one of her neighbours] Such was the inter- est this woman felt in the child so early dependent on her kindness, that as soon as he was weaned she insisted on taking him to her own 'house. Hij* parents gi-atified hel- wish, and he remained for five years under her care. Each night, before putting him to b^d, she knelt beside him, and in an audible voicefprayed for the child. These prayers left such an impression ,on' Jiis memory that even in his last years he could tecollept some of her petitions. The pariiih of Reay being then vacant, James j^ \ —X'-- V •..'-V, •^' VEB8I0X — baptjzedIon tub UOOB. S3 Macdonald was -obliged to apply to a neighbouring minister for the baptism of His^child. . On a cold DecembeKdaj' h#and his wife went with the infant to that minister's inanse. On req^ching it they found that the parson was from home; he hadi started in the morning on a shooting excursion, and was not expected to return before sunset. Instead of waiting for the reverend s^rtsman, they started across the moor on their way h6me again. They had not gouA. far when the minister, in his shooting attire, met them, and at once decidied to make short work of it by ' baptizing the infaiit on the spot. They were stand- ing beside a frozen pool, and after muttering a few words of prayer, the minister broke the ice with the butt end df^Jiis gun^ and fetching water from the opening, sprinkled it on the face of the infant as he repeated the solemn words of consecration. Such a / baptism, if an early earnest of the treatment await- ing the Apostle of the North at the hands of the Moderates, seems now a presjige of his future work, as ibe great field preacher of his day. The minister's condu(it in this affair may give an ifha. of his character. He was no inapt specimen of a class Y^Tio found the office of the ministry tolerable , only when they acquired fiicility in ignoring its responsibiUties, and in casting its restraints aside. O^ one occasion, being anxious to ascertain in what estimation he was held, and meeting a man to whom he was unknown, and throug h Vhom Im Pvp n ^t o H : f «i^.- ..:\ S4 • v>-" V FIGHTING ON THE^f^EES. ' «* the vox populi to speak, he resolved to elicit Iiis opinion. The result did not encourage him to re- peat the experiment. Not wishing to single jjttl himself, he first asked him his opinion of t\^ ministers. " What do you think of Mr,,BJ ' ' quired. "Mr. R is an honourable minister." "And what do you think of Mr. M?" "He Is- tolerable," was the reply. And then coming to himseli; he asked, " And what is your opinion of Mr. C. ?" The answer to this was, " As for him, he is just abomi- nable." "% ''''"- John MacdcjwHd derived his name from his two grandfathers. Hi^ paternal grandfather wi^ an emi- nent Christian, mueh given to prayer, the author of several Gaelic hymns, and known as " the man who would fight only on his knees." A misunderstanding arose betw'een him and Mr. Gunn or M'Homish, his Undlord, who jnot only threatened to ejeqt him from his ci^ft, but act)DPBi]y laid ^^ol«|||^^|^J|<>n his per^ son. John Mif||onald quietlyJM^Sf landl||jftt blows, and Imid good humoure«|pixWU not fight with you standing, but come and I will try you on my knees." Hearing this, Gunn went away in a 8?«afc rage, conceiving himself to be highly insulted ._ Jmting aikiother of his tenants, he complained to him I *^**® W^^^ ^^^^ ^^ offered him by proposing to light hiffi on his knees. " He will do it too," the tenant said, « and I fear you will have the worst of it." " How 80?" asks M'Homish. " Jolm Mac, ^ '■<*.' "W i. EARLY BOYHOOD. -2ft (iinld," he replied, " has much to /say with, heaven, W he usually gets whatever jie asks from the Almighty. It was in this wa^ he- proposed to encounter you on Iiis knees, a»d if he does so, you wiU be sure to lose' the. day." ♦On hearing this the landlord took fright, nBver rested till he had asked* forgiveness from John Macdonald, and was. v^ kind to hifti ever after. His maternal grandfather, John Mnckay, bore' a high Oliristian character, and hi^ two grandmothei-s also feared the Lord. - Before entering school he was three years in his father's house after being restored by the pious widow who took charge of l^im during his first five years. During that time we must think of him as a smart active little fellow, with a merry leer scarce ev«r away from his quick black eyes, and a face whiqh a cheeiful smile seldom failed to brighten, dressed in the kilt, barefooted and bareheaded,' the active if not careful herd of his father's cows. His ingenuity in inventing plays, his musical propensity, and his even temper, won for him the place of leader amons the \)oyB who met on the herding ground. But even in these early days he had his fits of seriousness. It is seldom that children, haying 6uch instruction as he received from the lips and life of his father; are able entirely to evade anxiety as to their state as sirinei Jotm Macdonald, amidst the levity -of his early bj hJbd, ^aa ae i zied at time f w ith a Benae ofJlis^ ifaltt^ i^l'-. 1^^ # • V ■^ % y' 1". ■ ♦ • *» ^ • -«L . i\ - ^ « . .i»- *■ « . • i. R • « ■)■ ■T > vV. *r 'and danger. He would then betake himself to his ^inees; and on one occasion, using his influence over his companions, he persuaded them to join him in prayer in the place where they were accustomed to meet to play. He has told that, in those days, he often spent att hour ii^ prayer, and on rising from his knees the youngs Pharisee was disposed.to say, . ♦' What I a. good boy I am no^. The Lord will Purely be pleased with me to-day .(' , Iti his ninth year he i^ntered the parish school of Re^, then taught by Mi^ William Munro, of whom he afterwards wrote—" He was my first and last teacher, aAd under Providence my bpst friend in prosecuting my education. \l entered his school," he adds, " June 1788, and commenced Latin May 1 791. ' He taught me without a fee.\' His father wished to give him only an elementary ^ducation, content if his son could read, write, and reijkon ; but the school- master, knowing that the cat^chistV. son would do him credit, and acting on the parish minister's advice, began in 1791 to teach him Iwiiin. In the same class with him were two sons of the Laird of Big- house. They proved a drag rather than a stimulus, to John Macdonald, but the teache^ could net venture to promote the son of the catechist and leave the sons of the laird behind. Their mother ascertaining this, engaged the dux of the Latin class to go to the man- sion-bouse every evenin'g to assist her sons in prepar- ing their lessons. The privilege of Jjeing brought in ■; ' s h PRAYING UNDER DIFFICULTIES. 27 contact with more refined society and habits counter- balanced the disadvantage of his hiving to dra<» two dunces after him through the difficulties of the Latin grammar. After em^ering on his teens he became k^wn as the cleverest scholar in the parish school, and be was in consequence often employed by the neighbouring farmers in making up their annuqj accounts. An anecdote* connected with this worlc he has often told. Being asked to make up the accounts of a farmer in a distant part of the parish, he was under the necessity of remaining for several days in his em- ployer#bouse. j:be farmer had always kept up a form of family %f«hip, though well known to be fonder of pence than of prayers, but he had never ventured, when on bis knees, beyond repeating the words of the Lord's Prayer, on any former occasion. Thinking it necessary to get up something extfa when the catechist's son was present, as he knew him to be a sharp youth who would be sure to mark the difference between his prayer and what he was accustomed to hear at home," he resolved to para- phrase tl^e form which had stood him in such good stead before, that it might be decently long at any rate. Beginning with the invocation, he added to it the words, " and also on the earth," and an eke to each of the first three petitions; but having repeated the fourth, " give us this day our daily bread," there was a long pause. He evidently seemed to feel that thia r V- -'W. ■%^" i r i I!: i i J- lit >>, TMi : I r -Mr, / 28 MRS. IXNES OP SANDSIDE. was but a very Scanty allowance to ask, sa, with an earnestness iflhvhich he let out the deepest desire of his heart, he added, " but if Thou wilt give us more, we are quite ready to receive it" Such during his school d^ys was his eagerness to learn that, with the assistance of a neighbour who was " the cuijining cr^tftsman" of the district, he builj^ a room at the end of his father's cottage, to w^cn he removed his bed and his books, and wherd l^id' used to spend a set portion of each dny. Mrs. Innes pf Sandside, hearing of the catechist's clever son, took a great interest in' him, employed him in keeping her accounts, and procured for him a bursary, which helped him through his course at college. She was very religious in her own wa}', and rigidly tested by her standard all with whom she came in contact Her son. was a major in the army, and his irreligion continued to be for many years a source of great anxiety to his mother. In one of her letters to her profeg^, she writes — '* Oh, I don't know what to think of poor dear Williani ; he has no sense of religion whatever." But William became a true Christian ; and in a letter thereafter hiisi mother writes — " I am distressed about poor William. 1 fear he will turn out a Methodist or rather a fanatic." There was no pleasing the mother; her son distressed her before because he had no religion at all, and now he distresses her no lees by having t,oo nmnli, JOHN MACDONALD ENLISTS. 20 A si lock of the same kind was afterwards given her by her proteg^. She lived to hear him preach, and was disposed to thiiilL^him extravagant; but though she regarded his doctrine as ratbel: wild, she did not make this outrage on her religious sobriety a ground of quarrel with her early favourite. On one occasion she induced an English party; then on a visit to Sandside, to go to hear him preach. He was at the tiitie suffering from a sprained ankle. The sermon was one of those fervid discourses which he then usually preached. Mrs. Innes' Mends were exclaiming loudly against the alarming doc- trine and the vehement manner of the preacher after the service was over. Mrs. Innes' apology for hei* proteg^ was — "You must make some allowance for Hiy John; his sprained ankle spoiled his usuaLgood , humoujr to-day," In his eighteenth year Mrs. Innes i^ent him with a letter to the house of a neighbouring proprietor. There happened to be a recruiting juirty there at that time, and in thoiSe days most unscrupulous measures were resorted to in order to enlistment. There was music such as young Macdonald had never heard before, and dancing, in which he was not slow to join in the evening, and before the reels were over the catechist's son had the bounty money in his pocket. The recruiting Serjeant, when part-* iug with him at night, said to him — " You are now enlisted to serve yoifr king a n d countf}", a^l in fhft I;!' 3 ^^■l 'I "-i-'-'vy i'*. 4 ■n 30 THE sceptic's END. morning you must come along with me to a justice of the peace to be attested" This was ratlier more than the 3'outh had reckoned on when he became Mrs. Innes' messenger, and was a price he did not expect to have to pay for hi§ evening's fun. Next morning at breakfiast the Laird spoke of the sn^art recruit whom the Serjeant had enlisted on the even- ing before. The minister of Olrig was present, and inquired^ the recruit was the young man who came with the letter from Sandside. On ascertaining that it was he, he said — " He must be released; he is the son of James MacdOnald, the Beay catechist, and his parents intend to send him to college." He then importuned the officer in charge ,of the recruiting pai*ty to release him, which he agreed to do, and John Macdonald was allowed to return to Sandside. Thus narrowly, as it seems to us, did the Apostle of the North escape from being a soldier. The following anecdote connected .with his resi- dence at Sandside he has often told. As Mrs. JVines was starting for church on a Sabbath forenoon, Mr. Dunlop, a neighbouring farmer, called. "Are you not ^oing to church, Mr. Dunlop," Mrs. Innes asked, after they met and saluted. " No, ma'am," was his »'<^ply» ** I liAve not been in church for seven years, and I enjoy good health, and feel as happy ai^ those who attend regularly there." " That might do very well for this world," Mra Innes said, " but what are LOVE OF MUSIC. Ills profane I'eply, " iu five minutes I can make my peace with Qod." Many years after this conversa- tion Mr. Danlop, who continued the habit of which lie then "hoasted, w/is reading a newspaper on Sab- bath, apparently in his usual "health, when in a moment he dropped down dead ou the floor. When Dr. Macdonald was informed of the circumstancses of his death, recollecting the conversation at Satfdside, aqd referring to it, he said — ■" Boo? man, he did not get the fiv;^ minutes on .which he reckoned for mak- ing his peace with Qod." He early mttnifested an intense love for music, and even in his boyhood acquired considerable skill in subduing into melody for Celtic, ears the wild sounds of the bagpipe. This was his favourite instrument; and ou leaving home for college in 1797 it was carefully packed in his trunk, and doubtless furnished many a pleasant interlude amidst the busy studies of the session. In leaving home the next year the pipe was forgotten, but recollecting, after reaching Thurso, that he had left his favourite behind, he returned to his father's house to fetch it Before the following session higher matters began to occupy iiis attention, and the pipe was that year left pur- posely behind. His father, in order to try him, wrote to inquire what would be done with the pipe. " Just what you think right," was his apswer, well knowing what treatment his idol was likely to receive at his lutlu'r's hands. The old man no sooner"receTven^lRTS" f|!« », I a. *^. i I . ^ ,■ il 'LI ' I 4 ■- 33 FIKST MEETING WITH HECTOR HOLM. \ license from his son tban he went to fetch the f>ipe from its place, and laying it on the bloclc, he plied with ^ight good-will tlie axe on its chantersr • one of his journeys to college he reached the side of Invergordon ferry during a gale ot The ferrymen would not venttH^ on sea till $nd subsided, and, he wiEJked on the shore wait- f6r a quieter hour. There was then no inn In north windj the^W ing beside the fen*y, and efven if there were, he could ill afford to pay it^ charges. Hector Holm's house was iWarr He was the "Gaius" of "the Men" of Ross-shire; and right welcome was any stranger to food and lodging in bis hospitable home; Mm. Holm, ob- serving, a youthful stranger saui^ering along the shore, went u{| to him and invited lUm to her house. Her husband was from home, and was not expected to return till !a late hour; so after giving him the be^t her presses held, she asked the stranger Co con-, duct family worship, which /he at once agreed to do. Just as he had begun the prayer Heckle .Holm entered tfie house, and hearing a /strange voice he stood at the door to listen. Tlie prayer opened his heart to the youth who offered itjand he took him in, and when they met he saluted him very warmly. Tlie feeling then produced deepened in Hector's heart as the student visited him year by year thereafter on ' his college jourileya In later years it grew into an affection of peculiar strength. The student to whom he showed kindness, when as a stranger he first took ^ AT COLIiEGE, 33 hiin in, be, weU knew after^Birards as the great evan- gelist? anMfe'grfve to him, with a deeper love than before, his profound respect. Nor did the minister ever forget the Icindness shown to him as a student ^ Often, after he was minister of Urquhart, has IJd^ "spent &. night under the roof which then gave him shelter. On these occasions the .back court of Mr. Holm's house waa converted into a chapel, fiUed with a crowd gathered from the country all around; and to the preacher and to many of his hearers the ad- dresses delivered there were often most refreshing. ^ At coUege le was of "the first three" in aU his classes ; in the taathematical class he was faciU pHncepa. But once but of coUege, the "one thin Keferring to his death he says : — " Some have felt the tidings of thy death pierce them as a sharp arrow that hath reached the marrow of their bones, and there stuck fast. Theirs is a sorrow that shall not soon dry up, unlike the grief of oifaers which is but for a little an^ then passes quite away. As the dew of night on the mountain on a calm morning quickly passes away as if it never was, so soon as the sun has cast his rays upon it ; thus some are for a short season sad ; but joy and singing reach them, and, lo ! their sorrow is away, and it is found no more. But the showering rain abides not on the surface, but goes down into the soil ; and the deeper it sinks, it is the more abiding. Thus, the sorro\^ of some is but increasing when that of others has quite passed away Near to th^ spot where^ thou hast often stood to preach have they laid thy dust ; and as before thy life, so now thy death, is each Sabbath giving instruction to thy people. Some, doubtless, will look with a heavy heart often on that spot of earth, fragrant to them ^ce thou wast laid'ihere. Metjiiiiks I hear one of "7^^ 4' " '•■ , ' ■ ' • ;» m ' 14 ' V ^^^ " -.;-■. *4.-:JT^«:iSur^.-:.--T :%, 40 MR. BOBERTSON IN THE GRAVE. M^.| ii \r J II. I them thus speaking ov^r tliy grave, *AIas, all com- plexion and beauty have now departed from that noble manly countenance. Nor hand nor foot can this day move. They are now at rest under the . spell of the grave. Tongue shall not speak ; nor shall Vear listen to the wail of the mourner. The eye, once so bright, lively, and loving, that often beamed so kindly on the children of grace, and through which the tender heart cpuld be so easily discovered, is now under the seal of death, and shall not be opened. The tongue once so skilled to preach to us the gospel, is now under the strong lock of the grave, and shall speak to us no mora Oh, ye inhabitants of the grave, what stillness has lain upon you since yoiii*iform and beauty have departed ! Oh, when again shall ye move ! The worm shall sleep in the ground; in a quiet corner rests the insect during the storms of winter ; but with spring they shall awake again. But when shall a spring arrive that shall aroj^e ihe. still silent, dwellers in the grave ? When shaU tJiey awaken out of their sleep ? A long, long sleep is theirs ! Leaves shall spring out again from' , the branch, bare and uncomely though it be to-day; and in his celestial journey, the sun shall return again after he has gone out of sight. But when shall these again appear in beauty who now lie withered in the grave ; when shall those sun-rays reach them that shall give them resurrection from that bed. Yes, warmth shall come after the nnld^ and ' ' i.a ds^ ^-ih^l^ -'7 * '. *. ■i-.J' AT THE RESURREOTION. 41 after the longest night ; but when shall day dawn on the grave, and its long night be past?' But, soul, restrain. thy mourning; day shall yet dawn on the grave, and before it the grave s long night shall flee away, with all that made it dark and frowning. Jhe dust of him for whona thou hast often wept shall then arise with c6m«liness, beauty, and strength greater than though in the grave it had never lain. O grave, employ thy i)ower to-day, for the King of hosts permits thee. Yea, extend thy sway, and swallow up the nations. But boast not of thy might ; for though it is enduring it is not eternal. Already the Almighty One hath won an everlaslintr victory over thee. And in him shall his dead arise— a. glorious band, his own purchased possession. Their tongues shall then no more be sUent, for aU that made them dumb is gone." • ■ / 4 / / . t • , > / T— • ■ ) i ' . .-^-- ,au iL, ■ , . . ;■ . ♦ ^- ■• '■ <* .!;• ■ i,-*--f^ ■'!■ ,,*. • ;_.4v Ill ! . \ < CHAPTER III. MCEXSE-OSSIAXIC TOUR-ifesiON-ORDlNATION-TBAKSLATION TO . ^B»i-^BURa«-HIS WOEK TUEKB. jE was licensed to preach the gospel, July 2nd, 1805, by the Presbytery of Caith- ness. He was then known only as the .son 6f James Macdonald. His father's fame as a Christian and as a catechist heightenecP the expectations which waited for his preaching- and the love and respect entertained for the father made many anxious for the success of the son. His first sermon was not accounted worthy of his father's son - Some expected in his preaching a reproduction of his father's maturity of thought and feeling, and were therefore gre»tly disapppintid. One of his first texts —"I beseech the^, shew me thy glory "—startled otheiu A sermon on such a subject thev regarded aa too-ambitious an effort for a young man, and not a few shook their heads and hinted, that a young/ head suited young shoulders bitter than an old^ His first discourses, though carefully prepared, wem very unpretending; and though distinctly were coldly dehverftd; ^nm e nf tbo m o ro di utoiniiig uf hi ti A \ \. ^■ OSSIANIC TOUR. 43 hearers found aj^erm of promise in Lis earliest ser- mons, but except to a few, there was in his appear- ances as a probationer no indication of his future pulpit power. Th6re may have been an excess of care as to the composition of his serpions, a forget- fulness of his hearers' wants and an overrating of their knowledge, a desire to write well rather than to preach effectively, and- a nervousness ^hich made him diffident, and set him to mandate "vnth a painful exactness that acted as starch on his manner in de- livering his discourses. Two months after being lige^sed, he sWted on an Ossiimic tour throughout t^e. North- western High- lands, at the urgent r^uest of Sir Johoy Sinclair. The object of his JQUrney was to ascertain\to what extent traditions df thfe Fingalians existed in the Highlands, apd whether Ossian's poems were still rememberecL The results of his tour are thus summed up by himself : — "1/ln the whole course of my travels in the Highlands, 1 did not meet with an individod, so far ifs I recollect, who did not hefir of the race of Fingal; and to whom the names of Fion, Ossian, and Oscar were not familiar, even though they could not repeat the poems and tales of these heroes. "2. Persons, in the different counties through which I travelled, who never had any intercourse with' each other, repeated the same tales and poems v\ i; • i %A,. 4 'l » 44 ossian's poems. j :■ . i "S. That there existed such a race as the Fin- galians, that their time was in remote antiquity, and that the poems of Ossian are genujne, are as firmly believed in the Highlands as the truth of any tnjdi- tion whatever. Learned and unlearned, younrr and old agree in this. _ " . " KB. It is the general belief that the Fingalians were natives of Scotland, and resided chiefly there* but frequently visited > Ireland on warlike expedi ■ tiona" ^ Having asked an old Highlanderin Lochalsh, who had fought at Sheriffmuir, and who was in his hun- dred and twentieth year, whether he believed in the genuineness of Ossian's poems, "Do J believe the Bible ? * was his indignant reply. Tl^questiortj then raised, and since so often discuss^, whether the Ossianic poems are the pro- ductions) of an ancient poet caUed Ossian, or of a modem poet called Macpherson, may now be regarded as settled. The discovery, in ancient manuscript, of a large portion' of the Ossianic poetry, and the foct that Ossian's poems were bettei- kno^wn in the Highlands before, than since Macphei-so>n's birth, ought to set the question for ever at rest Tfeat Macpherson was m possession of aAcient manuscripts of Ossian's poems cannot be reasonably doubted, though he never chose to exhibit them ; but, besides transit- mg them, he ma y have added to .and altered them. H ,o wou ld h a v e duue bett er had he done less. . -'f , • . •. ■■ ■ > / • iUaC^-lil >x-. A WORD IN SEASON. 4ft During his toiir in search of Ossianjic remains the young preacher did not forget that he was dedicated to higher, service. He preached in every parish which he visited, and thus, within three months after his license, began to acquire some training for _^ _/: ■the great woi:;k in which he became famous as " The Apostle of the North.'' Having preached in the parish of Glenelg, the minister, a genuine Highland moderate, said to him after the service was over, " 'that was a very good sermon, I suppose, but it was quite unsuitable here; for you spoke all day to sinners, and I know only one in all my parish." ^ Crossing the hills between Assynt and Lochbroom, , :\ his guide across the trackless moor was a little girl just entering on her teens. He haji not spoken ^to / her till they were parting at the journey's end. He then slowly and solemnly repeated the words, " R^* member now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in / them." Twenty years thereafter he was preaching i at Contin on one of the days of the communion ' season. After sermon a woman salutes him, who, aft^r he had entered into conversation with her, told* him that she was the young girl who acted as his gyidd across the hills of Assynt; and that the _„ 1. words which he had repeated to her on that ocq|fiion«h9,d made an abiding impression on het' heart Inquiring about her, lie ascertainecir^Ear J} • I - r 1 . il m 'li ■M . I 'A;\. 46 MABCUS GUNN. ":*■( I she was regarded by all. who knev her as a truly Chnstian woman. ' , He returned to Caithness k^ Nbvember, and offi- ciate and jealousies many elements of division. A few of. them, successful in business, became purse-proud, and . ambitious of a position which their want of education unfitted them to occupy. Others, finding it easier, amidst greater laxity of opinion kifd of conduct, td make a creditable profession of religion, thrust them- selves forward into positions in the Church' which they would Hot have ventured to lay claim to before. To manage such a congregation wisely, to refrain from giving unnecessary ofience, . and yet to deal faithfully with all, required no ordinaiy skiU. There wei-e then, however, among the Highlanders in Edin- burgh, not a few pious men, whose chamotAr A\ *f . I*'''' "^ f.'' ■ ^':, : ^ .' V' \ -r. ■M :>■ " ^ ^ II ^ ■ ■ ■;»»'i CELT VERSUS SAXON. 49 i%spe(Jted, and who united all their influence in strengthening the hands of their minister. With . tjieif help, and by his own aj]Aiable disposition, eilsy address, and growing pulpit power, he w^ enabled to consolidate the congregation into a compact body, "with the lines of section blottemust try, by rolling their tongues in bar- barous Scotch, to rub the Gaelio off Jihem. Others, anxioas to have their families along with them in the house of God, must go to other congregations if an English service is not provided for their chil- dren in the Gaelic church. The strength of the congregation is weakened if these forsake it. The minister, too, Ukes to preach in English as well as in Gaelic. Outside his own congregation are some who like the Highland preaching when it id given them m. a lowland tongue, and tha^resence and influence of these is an accession. So tUfre mmt bft En gl i sh ; ;'-^^ I I X108) H tt «4 i .,11 h ^;1-; ■N^ (. ! ,M|: h- 60 LABOUB NOT IN VAIN. it cannot be kept out. And the pure Celts are sure to resist its introduction. Many of them think that the preaching is not worth a hearing if it is not in Gaelia Soine think that a slight is cast on the only language which they speak, and on the land which was their birthplace, and they stand up against the Saxon tongue as their- sires once rose against the* /" Saxon rule. A few who derived spiritual profit by the Gaelic sermons are unwilling to lo^e one of the diets by which they were accustomed to be fed. Thei'e is alw*i^, therefore, a risk of serious division . whenever the English service is first introduced. Mr. Macdonald had painful experience of this during his ministry in Edinburgh. But let the dust of that •strife lie unstirred. While in Edinburgh his work gradually increased, till sit last his labours became excessive. Besides delivering two Gaelic discourses during the day he preached an English sermon every Sabbath evening. Besides prayer meetings and district catechizings he delivered regularly a weekly lecture As his fame was rising, demands for his services liiultiplied. He preached occasionally in Greenock, Port-Glasgow, Dundee, .and Perth, and frequently in Glasgow and Stirling, where Highlafid regiments o^ militia were stationed. There were blessed fruits of his preaching to the Highland soldiera Not a few oLthem were converted unto God through his sermons at that time, and when their re^ments were diBbanded they re- EENCONTRE WITH A PRIEST."' 6X turned to their homes in the north, to labour in the service, aiid to live to the praise, of the Lord. During the earlier .portion of his ministry in Edin- burgh he statedly visited his pfeople. This was work in which he could easily excel. His cheerfulness, conciseness, and punctuality, enabled him to overtake an amount of visitation impossible but to a few,xand to make it always pleasant and instructive. Havin his opponent, and sullenly withdrew. The man recovered, ftnd was a reguh^r hearer ever after in the Gaelic Church., ■ n'ft'- ■" ,TV^fl»iai«s!«rrft*'i 3^r— ■? S2 -REVIVUfO. ■} -(■ !!■ to retirej, as ofteii as he coujd, to a room in the house of Mr. Ogle, the publisher, kindly granted to him as a " prophet^s chamber," where he was allowed to study without distprbanbe during the time set apart for that ptirpose. In his jown house interruptions would constantly occur, especially after he became famous as a preacher. Many Highlanders and some Low- lahders are apt to think that a minister requires but little time for study ; and he at least was thought to be able to preach without any preparation at all. A lady once said to him, when he proposed to retire to study, " You, sir, can shake a sermoi^ put of your sleeve any time you. like." Yes, ma'am," he replied, "if I had it in my sleeve; but before I can shak« it out I must first put it in." The intercourse which he enjoyed with such minis- ters as Dr. Campbeilj Dr. Colquhoun, Dr. Davidson, and others, and with the literati whom he met at Sir John Sinclair's, was most beneficial to him. He had uo such advantages before, and, eager to acquire knowledge, he was resolved to ms|.ke the most of them. He carefully read such works as he \ie&rd these great > i men criticize .and commend, and thus attained to be abreast of the leading minds in general information ; and he acquired a facility and accuracy of expression in English which greatly contributed to his future usefulness. / < .3ut he passed through a still mere importanf i' .change during bis residence in Edinburgh. Tberr f MB. HACDONALD IN EDINBCRGft, 63 is no record of his experience at that time, but of his having made a fresh start in the way of life there was abundant evidence. There have been instances of persons becoming " other men " who were never new creatures^ in Christ ; but ^there have been also instances of renewed men becoming other men under a fresh baptiSta of the Spirit This was the change which Mr. Macdonald underwent in Edinburgh. It was soon apparent in his preaching. Always clear and sound in his statements of objective truth, his preaching now became instinct with life." It was now searching and fervent, as well as sound and lucid. Knowing the ten-or of the Lord, as he knew it not before, he wamtd sinners in Zion with such faithful- ness arid power as excited the wonder and tHe awe of his hearera His statements of gospel truth were now the warm utterances of one who deeply felt its power. The Lord's people could now testify that he spoke from his own heart to theim His manner in the pulpit underwent a corresponding change. His action became most vehement; but it never seemed extravagant to any hearer who coufd sympathize with the views and feelings of the preacher. His melodious voice, though often very loud, was always under his control, and was pleasant in all its tones. Chanting occasionilliy as he spoke, he added greatly^ to the effect of his preaching on Celtic sensibility. His sermons, always fraught with thought, bright '" istrationT-amhteeming with ^feeling, were fitly" I J lill. -Stat; s** /? m /I % 64 FIRST SfilBMON IN TAIN. fe-ii.' n i ■ ': I iji delivered with the most unaffected apd the intensost earnestness of manner. ^ So marked was the cha^ which then passed over his preaching tliat many weS led to judge that he had^never preached the gospel till then. This is"en^ tirely a mistake. He preached the gospel in Berrie- dale as surely as in Edinburgh, though with far less unction, discrimination, and power. Soon after this change he visited his father in Caithness, arid preached in several places during his journey, exciting the, astonishment of all who heard him. Being in Tain, on his return from Caithness, he was asked by Dr. Mackintosh to preach, and he at once agreed to do so, arid occupied his pulpit dur- ing all the services of the Sabbath. Being an utter stij^nger to the people he received but a cold welcome frpm them, when he was seen mounting the pulpit Staii% instead of their, own revered minister. There waa present in church one who, on that day, had ^ked sixteen miles, as he had^often done before, to hear the great doctor. He thus descr^ibed his feelings on that occasion : — " I was greatly disappointed on seeing Dr. Mackiritosh walking towarda.the 'manse seat,' and instead of him a smart-looking young man walking, as I thought, with too rapid progress, and with too light a step, towards the pulpit. I felt at once as if the day was lost. I expected no good, and shut up m^ heart against the youth who came in between me and my wonted S abb ath fare. Ha g uvn ■^ POWER OF HIS PBEACHINO. 65 out the psalm. * You can't spoil iHi at any i-ate/ I said to myself The prayer began ; but I scarcely heard the first part of it. Gradually my attention was attracted, but towards the manse seat I found my eye still wandering. Before the prayer waa over I ceased to look away from the pulpit. When the sermon beg^ I forgot all but the doctrine I was hearing. As he warmed up with his subject, the preacher became most vehement in his action ; every eye was rivetted on the speaker; and suppressed sounds testified to the effect which his sermon was producing. His second discourse was so awe-inspir- ing that the audience became powerfully affected. Such was the awful solemnity of tiie doctrine and the vehemence of the preacher's manner, that I expected, ere he was done, every heart would be pierced, and that the verj^vroof of the church would be rent. The sermon over, all were asking who the preacher was. 'A young man from EdinburgJi of the name of Mac- donald,' was the only answer that could be given." / jlaB fl^ i 1 ffi 1 i 1 a* r. '^} ■'^^^M A ~V-r , CHAPTER IV: TRAI^LATION TO URQUHABT— HIS PBBDBCESSOR— 8TATH OF THE ^^ARISH-^STATB-OF THE NORTH— AK BVANOBUST BIIQUIBBD-MK. MAODON ALD PREPARED TOR HIS WORK. |R MACDONALD was translaied to Urqu- hart in 1813, and his induction there took place on thp first of September. H'e was presented by the pjitron, Mr. Forbes of Cullod«n, on the petition of the parishioners, whose attention was first directed to him by Dr. Mackintosh and Hector Holm, the minister and the layman, to whose judgment they most.readily deferred. The name of his predecessor is fragrant, to all who are acquainted with his life and labours, with associa- tions, of pecuKar sweetness. Mr. Charles Calder was a Christian who left a persuasion of his holiness in the minds of all who came in contact with him. As a minister he was eminent among many who were famous in the Church. In his Congregation were not a few who had been converted and edified under his preaching, and tvho regarded him with love and vene- ration. For many years he had been feeding his flock with nhe finest of t,h^ whent,/' nnd whoa bu ij[R,4jalder's death. 67 died they scarce dared jto hope they would again en- joy the prl^jleg6 of a ministry by which they could, be edified, ^heir ||?|ings are well described by his successor, Jh a Gaelic 'poem written by him in honoui' of Mr. Galder's memory. .^ v /^ "Sad and mournful tidings have we heard, tidings which deeply wounded us, and drove from mirth and son^^alljjp could appreciate our loss. Widely over *^^ yMJJP ^ ^** *^® '^ '^^ws spread, showering sharp ^TBB^ *** P*'^^®^^* *^d fringing with it the sorrow of Ifienighi What saddened us, and many besides, and made us gloomy and grieved, is that our charm- ing pastor, Mr. Charles Calder, has been taken from us; and that from«his lips we shall never hear again the glad tidings of the cross. His tongue is to-day under the seal of death. This, this, God, is our distress. The tidings have falle/i as mist around us, hiding as behind a cloud the sun, and taking our strength and courage from us. Sad indeed is Ferin- tosh ! In some hearts the wound is so deep that, on this side of glory, they cannot hope it shall be healed. , . "0 death ! small is thy compassion I for thou hast pierced our pastor with thine arrow, and made this- people desolate, even as lambs tHat have lost their mothers. ' *' * - •' Though thou, wh6 wast our guide, art taken from . lis, and though our voice and praise can no 'f» Ei-^ Y i !fl ): /•"•v iti'ffl 'r- ,' fi^O'^Wch thou didst obteia and merit; for this mar fae^crushed and ,a«the« it may awaken anrietyi ■ , ^ft«- lost .condition Farand wide has spread tty . ™lf ir ' "^'^ '■P'^ °'«' thy .^ enaow- . «.eni«; U'OBaawestthemnotthyself.andotherscouId th^ to tbme eyes seemfedyain and worthless. That : the BedeemermightbegIo;ified, and that the pr«no«1 "rS"^^""^'' love shonU flourish^^inaH, souls of»e„, in reward, of the tfavaU of his Soul- • ILT t^'^r- 'T'«'t He might see, and be J safasfied, with the fruit jf his tmvail in the garden •' '' that wretched death.deseW.inne™ would'^ub^;' stouu'^r' ' °! "'^'^ ""> "'"""' of »lvation should be as is meet ; and that thU crown should for •"As grace, in rare measrfre, Vas ffiven the^ Jn g.iU thou didst excelmtny whi were W™ ■;„" heaven y, affections warm, a memory retentive and LTw"'T *'•""• "•"* """"'• ^^-a w . h in a^hari'^ "commendable, pade thee polished a^" ,. a shaft m thy Eedeemer's hand. And, Iwsides thv Kmces .,nd gift., thou ha Ju t .emarkable ^ 1 i If r-y eomelihess oT « 1 4 V ►* ^ ^4.<*ii ite ** } . eo MR. CALDfiB's PREACHINO. ment; an^r all the "perfections of God found aiLple satisfaction f there the ransom price was laid cjown which paid the d€bt and purchased life, foV therefwas tlfe end of every sacrifice, there the essence of all truth, the sum and substance of all throughoutf'the glorioiw Bible. There Satan was Wercome] and spoiled. To us this was the destruction pf the Ji-ave and of death, the opening of the fountain of salvition and of paradise itself at last There was sLcT the efficacious blood which purchased tp us pbacJ and reconciliation in the day when its loud cry soJnded m ^ars of ;the God of mercy. For its sa^e he remdyi^s the curse from us, and bestows aU bleiings on us, and puts us in possession of hai)piness it his own place of glory and of blessednesa There ifercy found a door by which to come out to the chjljren of poverty, with power to save them; never to itturn till all her desire is accomplished, and till" she ir'in^ the children of destruction into paradise. "This cross, in these its^ properties, thou (didst preach to this people,~anTI?ch were thy jliews and thy power to speak of it, that thy report ias to us most persuasive. Thou didst exhibit to us bhrist ' crucified as the Alpha and Omega in the everisting covenant of redemption, aUd in aU the counkels of .God— as the shelter from the storm to us~L our enduring defence from wrath— as the peace to our conscience— the oU to our wounds— the rigLous- ness to clothe us— the sanctifi catioaNt^ beRiif.ify n« itiophsb i \ : ii Jl; -^W- — If- I: f MR. CAIDER's PRliACHINO. m —the balm to heal us — -the sjbill waters to give us drink— the light to guide us— our strength for all obedience — tbe life; the beauty, the fragrance of all our service — the food % which we live — our music to remove our sadness — our strength, our stay, our eternal foui^dation of hope — our shadow from/the heat of the- sun- — our warmth amidst the cold of our distant land^our shield from the sharp arrows of the great enemy— aa 4eath to the man of sin within Us— as a gracious hdlp to us in every time of need, as well as the enduring sfulnesSs of our God which passigih knowledge. ** «„ u, i* " faithful, powerful, and compassionate, wast thou in proclaiming to wretched sinners all the terrors of the Lorji ^ No prelacher ever sounded mor^ loudly tliQ; trumpet, of God's laW in the ears of sinners! Alas! there are who proclaim destruction, the law's curse and God's wrath to us, but who show that they have for us no affection and no pity. Not like these' wert thou, in telling us of our loss and danger; thine own soul was then in travail, and in, thy veiy Ifrown thy love to us might be seen. .' " Thou gavest to the flock of Christ pure food ; dividing to each, for his ' instruction and comfort, liis own convenient portioa The dew (>{ heaven on thy soul, and the lowlwhich made Ithjl^yery breathing warm, often cheerft them, and raised their hearts when sorrow bowed them down. Often, as tiicy listened tp tliQj have their heartaHbeemnelted, ! I ^m \i it.' ,eS! \v< MR.OALDER IN HIS CLOSET. their glo V dispelled, their enemlra scatteik S«r^t were tti^e utterances to them, bringing life and ing off them the blight of death. The blind would get^sight, and^the wounded M^g ;- the frozen «^«r T^"^:"^^ lain, would be melted; the sad ^,rit whose exercises had feded, would blos^ «.m as the fig-tree beneath the sun of summer. Scarce ever heard they one who could unravel, as thou couldst, their cases, clearly and wisely in w.U whjch were to them peT,lexing, seemed to them w^ l^.f"^ '"**'''' **""" *"" % JiP«- Thou wast sMed to speak comfortably to mai,y whowen, jnourners a^ong this people; for when [he goZ trumpet sourided, and the influences from heaven wo^d give place to joy, and their gloqm would flee ' malfl"/"' *^« P<"'"°f the Spirit of Ood which' made the trumpet sound p^fitable to us, and made wST 'T'f *° "" "^ 8ood. And while we would acknowledge the benefit which we received .from thy testing during aU thy ministry, wel^^W 2;'b^ aU the gk,.y to, the Spirit of Go4 by whom alone It was made effectual \~ th«"f h^° T "'°" *'"■"' '" *y ''<»«'' Pleading>t * he hnme of grace, seeking Mfe for thyself and food for thy flock. It was while on thy knees the dew .- ^ ■/. US. cald£b's life. S3 reached tbee« which made thy doctrine lively, fresh ^ and fragrant to us alway. A^d in preparing food ' for the heirs of mercy, let thy chamber witness to thy travaa Yea, it was with thee, as with Dayid, when he "would offer 8acrifice,—to give what cost thee nothing thou didst not desireL' 1 "A faithful friend, in Church courts, wert thou to the flock of Christ, never yielding to those who ^uld do them wrong. Lamb Jike, though thou weft,^4nd always wishful to be gentle, thou wouldst- stand up th^n lion-like l[^ courage. 1 # 4|^ " To the poor thou^ wert always compassionate- and liberal j among a hundred none but thyy^ouse was thine equal. Thou and she lived among us, like two gentle streams from one fountain, communicating, in- love, to the poor who had grace, and in compassion to those who lacked it. / ; " ^\ •' to thy faithful discharge of social duties, let thy^ friends bear witness. Not in thy teaching only didst thou exhibit the life of godliness ; it flowed out in all thine actions during ajl thy years in the wilderness. There are who preach of woi-ks aSP^the all' of >e- • ligion, in their dry, cold, sajjess doctrine, while their own works are vUe. But what gave beauty to thy words in our eyes, and n^ade thy doctrine seem to'ua most comely, was, that thy words were attested by thy works. The fruit of the holy and gracibus Spint poured o^t on thee, broke f6ri)h in manifest beauty day by day fn thine actions. This sS pre- t:i 64 ME. CALDEB'sStTCCESSOK. I r- 'fi'-. served thy character from reproach that even enemiea could find no occasion against thee, except, as in the case of Daniel, on account of thy godliness alonei Thine was- Hhe path of the just,' which, HkeihJ pure and shining li^ht, increases more and^ioi-e till the eternal day of glory. " Thoii wert as a tree in the house or the Lord, ever stately, green, and fruitful ; and when thou wast old and grey-headed, then did thy freshness and beauty abound ihe more. For eight and thirty years We enjoyed thy labour of love; and during all that time we never wearied of thee. Sooner shaU the water be seen flowing up the steep ascent on the breast to the brow of the mountain ; sooner shall the birds of the air cease to sing to us, tha? that thou, Charles, shalt be dropt out of memory. Nor shaU thy doctrine be forgotten by those who were nourished by it ; for it was anointed by the dew of grace, and shall in freshness survive even death itself." If Mr. Calder's successor had been a man of questionable piety, the people of Urquhart. would never have received him. If he had been a man of. slender gifts, though of undoubted piety, he never could have commanded their respect, and His influence ^ ^^ would have been comparatively small If he had been ^ a man of the same stamp, in respect of intellect and manner, a comparison would have been mstituted between him and Mr. Calder, which was sure to be h « \ in,,.,-' n*V. „ *. . ■?' ; ; * '; ' o ' ■ «■' "■ . -- T-J-^-. - -t! - ■ it : •-■^ j. ... ,. #■•■ - -^.J-:.'.- ' .. . ■ , **f ■ ' .■:.■■ . --M 1 V, il , THE PARISH OP URQUHART. • 09 unfavjourable to the former. If he had failed to show his profound respect for his predecessor's memory, and toj-emind his people of his life and labour^, by merely ^eeming anxious to wean thim from their first JovVhe would have alienated their alection from himsel£\Bui Mr. Macdonald was one whom : they all could receive as a man of God ; whose ^tr tainments could not "bjit commahd respect; whose labours the Lord had Mi:eady blgssed, and His people highly ) prized ; whtisfrxBtyle of preaching was so differ^fat, that his congregation could love and respect him, without the fearX, preferring hina to Mr. Calder' ; and Mr. Macdonala^ instead of attempting to alienate from fiis predecessor's memory the warm affection of his hearers, laboured^ to deepen in their hearts an impression of his excel- lence. It was a highly* cultivated field on which he then - began to labour as the minister of Urquhart. The Session was large,, and composed of men of undoubted^ ^ piety, some of whom were talented, and all of whpm ^ were respected. Rare men and true, as Christians and oflice-bearers, were Vass, Calder,- M'Intosh, Gordon, Ross, Urquhart, and Mackenzie,-^and by their influence the minister's hands were gieatly strengthened. In the congregation were many wid had felt the power, and who bore the fruits, of the gospel. From neighbouring parishes came many praying hearers, seeking the bread of life. Besides tei kfl •1te,_ ■& J •I jl : ■) I I : I ■A.'i < t J>'i (. *' / 66 THE SUITABLE PO&T. / - * the stajifced services on Sabbath, and the ordiriaiy prayer knd feUowship meetings in clmrcb, there were regular! prayer-meetings in the various districts of the parish, piscipline had been always faithfully administered, ^ Collections • for njlSary objec^ts were regularly raised, and i«;ere always liberal. With Wry few ex(«eptions all the parishioners at- tended ^hurch. / ^ ■ This Was just the post for the miSter who was destinedl to be " The Apostle ofthe North." ^d he been set down in a parislK which had not enjoyed a gospel ministry, the itaiWiate field of labour would have demanded all his/eare, and from the teork of cultivating the home Waste, he could have spared no time for evangeli^ng the region aroifid. But Urquhart could spare a portion of its pastor's laljiour to other plftcea Tliat congregation could bear the trial /)f its minister's frequent absence without being scattered or disaffected. Often, indeed, did their minister thus try them. Sometimes when they heard him not once in six weeks, they would murmur, and resolve to remonstrate with him on liis retura An opporCiinity of doing so they would not get before the Sabbath ; and during his preaching then their fit of fretfulness would pass away, and his cheerful greeting of them, when they met, would secure a •railing reception in return. A stranger,^ from a parish whose minister was 'a Moderate, once met an Urquhart man during one of hi^ minister's long ^ * _ifc;^_ -^ ^ ■a^j, '-^ijii.^ ^ /^jos^, tours. "How is your minister r( he inquired. "J can't tell you," WRs~ihe^ rejply, «>We have neither, lieard nor seen hiih for six weeks. \t is reaUy too bad," he added, "that he should be s<). long away from his own pari8h;^Ur^Mndeed it is," r^oined the to yoKi a plan bv which pery^$abbath/' ^^And your ininister for be Ief|> with you fc Oh, i| that's your other, "but J can " you can have yo what is it ? and rn engage that the Sabbaths of the j^ear. we will rather stick, td what w^ iiav©." "If won't adopt my suggestit)n," the stranger said, me hear lio more complaints about your minister frequent absence. Be thankful that you 'have a minister of whose services all are a^ious to have a share." ' ■ . - ^ .' A '': .. ^v--' ■.■:^ The North needed ai> evangelist. ! True, there was then a Robertson in Kingussie, a Fmser in Kirkhill, a Bayne in Kiltarlity, a Macken2ieigJ||techcarron, a Stewart in Dingwall, a Mackintosh jnTEin, a Forbes in Tarbat, and a Macadam in Ni^g, besides other ministers who were faithful and us?ful in their day; but these were scattered ^ over a wjde territory, and extensive waste^ lay between and beyond them. True, also, the influence of these men sop^vaded the whole region, that the po})ular conscience throughout the Highlands dieferred to Evangelism, aiid even in parishes from which sijch preachers were excluded there weipfe precioua fruija of their labours ; but iust on that ,,„L. ■-_ -/> J. • * > J> AN evangelist's TVIORK. accomt^iere was a prevalent desire fpr an appmvod evangelist, and a field ready for ^^is labour. True besides, the gospel had, before tliis time, made \U deepest impression on the north.\ Even already though the overt power of EvangelisVn had not begun t6 waite, the tide of spiritual influenbe had certainly begun to ebb. Even already the Aged Christians felt that they were survivors of better times ; and if they looked with a tearful eye on the st^te of religion around them, it was not because they were idolizing their memories of the past, but because the davs on which they looked back were dVys of the right 'hand ,of the Most High, brighter than the present with a manifestation of His glorious grace. But it was the busy work by which a day of grace, given to a people, is fitly closed by Him who gave it, iov which such a labourer as a zealous; jyangelist was ^ nee^. J^^^ then the seas6n# spiritual pro- . ; spenty gave foretokens of its close ; if the Lord was already withdrawing his right liand \^ which h6 had wrought such wpnders of grace before j if it noW^ seemed as if he intended to bestow no abiding bus- bandry on any portion of his vineyard in the north when he had begun to remove one bv one those by ' whose ministry he had been rearing thlre the trees ot righteousness ; if the work, now to be done, was the gathering in, right "speedily, of outcasts scattered over the wide north, on whom God had 8et,his love; and if inqf^^nd ^ M(>D£ItATISM IN THE NORTH. 69. the vineyard, travellers Zionward vi^ere now only to receive occasional fare, to keeii thexn Alive in time of ' /amine and to h||li> theftt bome ; the work of such a time as this could best be donel by an evangelist. To this ^erVi^, land noiS:^ the close superMsion of a favouifed spot, was Mr, Macdonald called, and for such 4 ministry he was prepared byihe Ldrd. To give Such a man for such service at such a time was becoming the God of grice. The sun flashed brighily before sinking into the clouds which lay over phe horizon. It has not yet set ; but it is still behii^d the clouds; and the light of oyr evening hour is diiiti; ■• . ■ • : , In many parishes in the nornh the;*e, v/ere ministers * who^e inflijence, if the most. powerful, M'as also the moslj deadly. To all the worldliness, to much of the immjorality, and to some of the power of the chieftains of oiher days, they added as their own the hypocrisy of (1 profession of Christianiuy. It is almost im- possible to conceive of soma of these Highland iu) personations of Moderatism. If a few of them weiJB contiguous in a district preserved from the intrusion of enthusiasts, fearin j no Church censures, anq feeling no restraint from tlie public opinion which tlieJr own influence had ^lielly formed, they lived as (do those who card not .thojgh all should see the brtind of evil on their brow. The parsqn in one of tlK^se parishes was the great cattle-dealer at the II L'>iii( ! V V! ' , , h ■i . i; *i » * """^KAraMIBlSHiE's SABBATH. n.a«ter ,t the ft^er's dinner, and if the la«t to slide off h,s cha,r at .the drinting bout, it was because I. ^as m„„ "seasoned" than the rest He ing > '"'"7"°8 » sermon, used sometimes to read to his pejle, the account, of the battles^the newsl home. On one occasion, a false re^ of Napoleon's death reachei this country, and tl^ mi„isS i to his people with all the comments on the J^a ev.nt gwen in the paper which he was wont to S Before th« next Sabbath, it was ascertained that ^e ZS'J ; , '** ' '"''*>" '•«' Sabbath. i>i»poleoli the scoundi-el is yet alive!" . On a cold day in April, i„ the first quarter of this oeutury. a man, with a face remarkabl! forTts „a not at all too good for a scaretrow, and weari„^ w&s introduced 6y means of the Gaelic schools. The' teachers /of ^ese schools were, with very few excep- tions, gQ(!Hy, zealous, and judicious men. Though greatly fettered by string^t rules in carrying Jn their work, and closeJy watched hy the parish ministers j who had forged their bonds, they were enabled t|o sow tlie goojd seed in the places where tliey weri stationed, and there were precioiw^fruits . of theiv liboiirs. Wherever a (kelic school ^ been planted, pfew well-found who w^re l6nging for the gospel. There were crie|^ to heaven from maity spots in the unjidst of the desert^ the visits of an evan- . gelist-, am in answer to these prayers, AttjpTacdoilald wa*j aprioint^ to his peculiar,^work. ^'iDften liave^ :r-, ^^^«S6 loilely pilgrims been cheered by his visits and his 8erm|ons. " Ah e|rang»Hst'8 work, in the wide Highlands, must '/ '(■'^^ Ni 'I i ^ 1- ;■, . • . . .%.s^- * • , » '■:-r':\- ■ it ^ ^r ^ ■. ' .■" '«.■ ■ 'mS . > .«• I* upon i(||& KEQWI^ES FOE AN EVANQELISl , ,,.,, . . ., . ^--l portioi^ of pe ci «;. open^ up byioads. '^MdisS|cfe ^ must be eith^rlfeliifced " ! ; " in &afc field jed 't9« ui a coiAtii "PMiie active power of ai ^^:)f moi |V, V I n y »' *,. ■ i . lOMjg,. ldeii^^5|«^.'/^lfe labourer y-f f4^»gtM.%ith^^^^ ea8iljP,|„ffledS^43 J%^f MjfulUs ^: r^P Wearied ; for lie jmiist meet witli ^|ioiis/\Vhi€hbe;Wul^i[equi beai^>< :,' V, ^®f»"«* ^^e^dtob of looking at tht sld^ of tlnng^ ^e mug.lAve^a power ;*^fife^y^&ympathy. that adap^ hiajM thA time, to the Vtorje^ cases with, which LqcofiL in \contact, |k-ithout retaining a deep irapi^fon yliny of .them' Mi • '"^^^'•y 1"^ be retentive, his hito of tlVnking Ufj.;^' €xact, aH(i hf^ Aiist hive the gift of kSy utte^nce % ,\Y/ /'' *^? these TeSpccts Mr. Macdpn4i waa admiVably , ^j,, »^«PtedbyHiiiEi^ho"madehlm;aniwhomad6W \rf^A tnew/' for the^Work to which lie devJted his remailinff f l^- r , E ' , Kara Robust, healthy, and elastii i^.ljis physique, Vjhis mental powers and endowmfentafw^ife also such ai I an evangelist's work required. . Hs intellect, urgTd I j ioi'ward by a temperate ambitiousiess, had carefully S tmrveyed the surroundings' of its prom-ess, and ret ^ .tamed the full hiinefitof alf its aflv rifflto He was\* . quite as careful to k^range .as to jncJRjii^stoi'es , of knOwljd|e. ^e conceived < *^^"^°* iW and hi Ty- wer e care^lly balatw^ and lai T«":'ir- "I } fiat cume^ in ^fined views ■■■.■■ \\ ll# retentive ^^Kb - ;- % ' .- :^^-M''.:,^''" -, k . 4 .:^m. ■ i \i Ij. w^ THREE CLASSES OF EVANGELISTS. ^ 75 memory. His reading was careful as well as ex- tensive : hejdid not apprppliate, without appreciating, the researches of othera. / ; ^ There are some whose minds are like a disordered .shop.' The shelves are full, but all is so hud(^ed on them, that the merchant cannot at any tim^lay his hand readily on what he wants. There are others' like some catch-eye shops, all whosQ wares are in their windows. Well-ordered and showy their windows are, but there is no reserve behind ; their best and their all is seen at once. But Uhere are a few shops which show a good window, and- have full and well- ordered shelves behind. In these the merchants can lay their hands at once on wli^t is needed, and the oftener you deal with them the more you know of the extent of their resources. Like ttese last, in the wealth and arrangement of his storey of knowledge, ™"st the imnd of a good evangelist b^. If like tlie «rat, heV(Slare, be<^ule tbey ^n# vWy^themxU^^ whos« power of^endurance, in bteing abfelo'^'iilMI^ them so often, is only equal led by theirs V^iq aom qV^^j* Jh^^^ uwre tinm a sjjfcondlSGent hefeng, ^h' >k^. r I M :) M Wii t • » -.; '• V 76 ^R. MACDONALD FITTED FOE HIS WORK. ' Mr. MacdoBiald's early experience of the power of the truth was just of the type w6bse fitting fr;jitful- •iiess was an evangelist's work. In the law's light he clearly saw his guilt and d«figer as a sinner, and the aiTow of convictfon was driven deep into" his heart. He saw and ' felt, as but few besides^ the desperateness of self-righteous labour. His con- ception of the gospel plan of salvation was propor- tionally clear, fle "received the word in much affliction with joy 'of the Poly Ghost."' The JiOrd establishse^ his goin^ on jbhe roqi \d^^^ he plact iiim on it. The grave clothes were removed irom. this risen one at His command" who said, "Looi^ him and let him' go;" and in the enjoyment of gpsp^l^ .liberty he was usljered into gospel service. \ „ • . He was a scribe, already well instructed ip the doctrine of justification by faith; notijr the*mere collection and collocation of .pound propositions on the subject, but by being instructed by the word, and subjected to the power, both of the kw and of the gospel. He felt what he^knew; and he knew what he felt ; unlike those who know 8(^mewhat of the doctrine, but who have never felt tlie power of ^he truth in which it is revealed; and ndt as .others, whose hearts are aflfected by the truth, W whose minds are ill-informed regardihg it: •• . M- ' vHe early acquired the habit of carefurtp^^aratlon for the pulpit. He laboured to- apprehend his sub- "rt- '-^ \ r ^ Tffp niGBLA'ND EVANGELIST, 77 precision,- > His loye of system ti^ved him always, to attempt an .exact arrangement of his ideas. His ac- quaintaiiceVitb ihe schepae of gospel truth enabled fl'him to allocate its proper place to every doctrine which heAhandled.-' His p'owei' of illustration was sufficient to make his Sennons interesting and clear. Always textual, he avoided the sameness which mono- tonizes their Effusions, who discourae on a subject in- stead of expounding a text./ Freed from entangling fears regarding- his own interest in Christ,\and taught to tell his troubles only to the Lprd, he could carry a sustaining joyousness of heart with hipi TO^very por^n of his work, iffls natural cheerfulness, sanctified. into Christian happi-^ ! ness, could win for liim , ^admission into'liearts and hotnes -and pulpits that wouljd else have been shut against him. , ' ' - Such was Mr. Macdonald at the t period of his iji- duction at XJrquhart, and of his entering on his great wm-kas thfe Highland evangelist. / ^ ~* •'..,"3..-'..'' ■ ' ,. ■ - - •29(^- f. * • ■i»' tNJ ftd ■ ^'1 * ». 'm .M>^\ HIS wife's SATH, AND^ CHAPTER T. nS FIBST COMMITNION AT^RQUHART--ACTr0X i^ loZr' T "^^^^"^^-'•H" " ^VHB DOas" ATTEMPT • kt4'^ |R. MACDONALD .was in his thiity-fourth year when he cdme to Ross-shiret:::j£Ott«g^ etipugh to We, retained aU ^vigpur, rt *^ • *"^ ^°^^ enough to have acquiredskill by exp^enc^forthegreat work before him * ^ • ,* Wl^ his-^rst year in Urquhart his wife died . ' Soon afW h# lasUllness began, her hu8l,andr^ ful- ' • hiinent of a^roiws% visit hi|.llth^r; and'of an en- ' • f^"^'"^ ^^ ^^ PW i^end, the miniiter of ' " ^^ay, sti|^ fdFCaithdesa. During the firat mile of ' thejoi^^,}^nxie^ homewards. : The week aftef his retunrh^d S V ^ ^ :-been appointed as the communion seasqn at Urquhart. J-. • ■ k ■ " 1^' % *-'. -d**^ 'it i »• • . » THE FIRST COMMUNIOX. 79 His elders waited upon him to suggest that the com- irfunion services should be postponed. "No, no," he said,, "let not the death of my wife interfere with com- memorating the death of my Saviour: I feel very Unfit' for my share of the service; but there aie able mini^^ ters engaged to carry on the work." Thus, within the same weeV, he had to perforin the sad task of laying the remains of his wife in the grave, and to engage in the public services of.his first communion at Urquhart ' ^ Q"^; *liat occasion an immeiise crowd assembled. As many as ten thousand were in " the burn" on Sab- bath. To this vast multitude Mr. Macdonald preached that daj*! " I will betrothe thee unto me for ever" wa^j^ his text. From the very comm'encement of the service ther^ was an unusual stillness in the congre- Mgon, and all seemed under the spell of an unwonted " .slp»^ty- They knew the preacher's affliction, and^i '".they could not even look on him unmoved. His ^ , sorrow touched their hearts, and his self-denial, cour- ag^and devptedness to the service of the g|H>el, ap- ' pealed powerfully to their conscience.. H^&Lar- vellously helped by the Lord in his work. i||psoul was lifted as on eagle's wings abov« the sorrow which b^re depressed Him. The widower was lost in the sji)i|e; the earthly wa^ forgotten in the spiritual : relatlbii ; and, unthinking of^is o^n distress, he gave i hiihself up to the praise of Christ. The power of the Lord was signally yrmlsjing in ''the burn" that day 't i f P .' (.1 t t 8a EARLY FRUITS. \ + - M ilU i| i i': when, in, the evening, he'appealed to the unconver^rl, eomraending to tl^m the love of Jesus, urging on their acceptance his offer of maniage, and warning them of the danger of refusing his advances, the hearts of many sinners were pierced. The ex- citement at last was very great, the groans^nd out- cries of the stricken ones sometimes drowning the voice of the preacher. During the closing service on Monday the same scene was rej^^ated. ^ The awakening, then begun, continued for some time. On tlie 12th of January 1816, Mr. Macdon- ^ aid thus writes in his journal : — "In the course of this and of the last week had some visits from young persons under conviction] which were very a^eable, but which made me feel how ill-qualified I was to comfort them. The Lord's time is not come. But, oh, how much I need to un- derstand more clearly and experimentally^ the sim- plicity of the gospel ! / " Since I came to- the parish jn 181 3, 1 think there have been awakened under my ministry, know;n to myself, besides others unknown to me, and who have not called upon me: — Belonging to my own parish, . CoAtin, Urray, and Fodderty, Kiltearn, Alness, and Bosskeen, Creioh, Tain, Peam, and Tarbat, Besolis and Cromarty, . Avooh, . . . . • • , Alness [at Sac^ment], . Ardclach, Croy, Kirkhill, '. '^ lu all [the Lord be merciful to thciu], 12 8 6 9 8 2 8 S 68' V l' ■"!' f 'J •■■ ■/■'.■- -A DEDICATION. 81 On New Years day, 181^, he began the journal in which the preceding is an entry. On that day he writes: — , "Being now in tlie thirty-seventh year of my life and the ereVenth of my ministry, and desiring to be humbled Wore my God, for the misimprovement of past time— especially considering^that the best part of my life is over-rforthe little return I have to make to Him for the oj.portumties, the means, the talents, the education, and [I trust] the grace, which He haa confen;ed^bpon me; I,. would, this day, i:esolve in the strength (Of hi^grLie henceforth to devote my- self more than ey^r to Him and to His work; to con- sider myself as not liiy own but His ; and His,! trust, by redemption, and therefore bound to be at His disposal, and to glorify Him in my bddy and spirit which are Hia And in oVder to this I^ould, more than I have hitherto done, attend to,— Iv Earnest, frequent, importunate prayer. 2. The reading and searching of the Scripturea 3. Meditation. V The state of my heart and life »s to personal godlinesa 5. My public ministry -zeal for God ; love tdW souls of men; prepto^ion for the work; readinW to speak the woifd^^^^e instant in season and ou of season. ^' .J: " Among the many "Otoissions of my past life whfcl. ' I have to lament, that ^f not keeping a diary, con- taining some iaccount iif the Lord's dealing with my somranrcTTOlvdFE of my iS^i^I^ H. %\¥ (103) H <*! t.^. ^ 'M^ \ \ ^1 i ¥• fl (n:,. 1(1:' |- itiV '■■. lib -■ ■ N- « ' ' Ht- • . *n ■ r '^ liir* ■■/ m I! I I f) ■V- ■ ■ ■" • EXTRACTS FEOM ^bUENAL. " was cliiefly prevented fr^b this by a false humility, ^ not thinking aWthin^one in me or by me worthy otbeing recorded; aiid^ as reckoning myself so far , ■ behind those whMsuaUy kept such (ih^ies that it would ^-presunjr^tion on my part to atteYnpt -any- thing of that kiJid. I now find, however, that -this was ^ mistake,:>nd I have no doubt that Satan was Jit the bottom olf it; fbrJf the %d wrought in me. and^byn^'in any measure, however unworthy I am, .^rai^d:n^e is more* so,, a^ He knows, on the face of theeattfc^^ workdeserves to be.Tfecoriied, and ' BOHie^aeeountVit might b^ serviceable Igo myself, ' " » useful to others, and/onducive in som4 measure to His glory. , I 'i^ould, therefo^-c'in futur«i endeavour . . '^t^) keep some account of my.Iabours, with anyt^l|ng j« ^* - \ V"^ **^ soul, in providence regarding me, oi: in my .^ ; ' success iii tJie vineyard, which 'may be deserving oiKv . ^notice.. Anci I begin with this year [1816]. " , - The resoliition- whidi he then ibrraed, wai? cai^ed. in extent during all. "his subsequent life, inal only fragments reraiiin, containing (count of his- Ubouta. ** ' •wing entries, serve to give ah idea of his*, fiis period of his ministry :-4- ' • '^ an. 5; 1 8 W.—Preache4/k^ini^it^ Inverness, 1 Pet. ii. 17. In whioli I considered, 1. The** _ icter of the bdlipver's God— ' Uie Father inhtJT" ►ithout jjesp/ct 'Df persons, judgpth,' kc 2. The character of Jus chU^ren-r-rthey ^ call t^fip the J^utiier; ' ■' , •■» ••' I EXTBACTS FR«M JOUBNAL. 83 ' —and, 3. The duty enjoined in consequence— * pass the time pf your sojourning'* here in fear/"^the- last of these referred to some, future pccasiorilfe Enjoyecl jsome liberty, ? '- " This day [Christinas OB.}, being an idl« day willi raanyv and much spent througiiout the country in ^ gossiping and dissipation, preached in my own church ^ to a numerous congregation, from^ccl^s. ii. 1 - 1 1 . I f hope the subject was suitable. '\Jan. 7, iSfaftia^A.—Preached Gaelic^froip Gen. xivii; 8, D; English from Peut. xxxii, 2d. • ' ' "Jan. 1!^ [New Year's Day 0,S,]. Last Tuesday,' ^ the 9th, held a. meeting for baplisms at Hec^rUr- - \ ' quhart's— well attendee^— addressed the people from " ^1 ^Luk^ v.vl2, li. 'Wednesday night, attended the English meeting ;a,fe Inverness. Thursday night, ^ I . , j)reached there fh English from Rom. viii. 6, latter* . ^' 'tdause, with sdra^ ^degree » of freedom and, I trust,, ' spirltuahty. • Endeavoured to de^ribe some of tile characteristics of spiritual mindednesa 0>, that l" possessed them ! 'fhis^ day Friday], bei^ig an idle" day lyith many people [thou^i not, aFas ! idle in sin], I preached to a large con^ega^on from Eccles. ii. 1*2- ^l^, in some respects suitably to tiie season of tlifi Vy^ir, |nd the clwirActer of many .of the audience. In ^ / tile afkS'noon, about four o'clock, held a diet for ttap,* 4 • tisms at the schoolhouee, Culb*k,ie, numerouj/ly dt- i'jL, t*^n«»■■■■'.'■■ . :•• . ' '•' i •», ,. ■ . •■• -J ... > t ■■ . . V . .ii^^ f. ■-i r ,l'.-»«t #' ■ A *■ *• ABOUNDING IN XABOURS. 85 ^ \ (1ml. Spent the evening at Mountgerald. 'After ten the servants gather^ with the family. Addressed at some length from ^jdi. ii., and with considerahie ease and freedom. The Lord be praised- fof^it ! Qii, how: useful ministers miglit be if t^bey acted as; be- \ cjime their offir-e ! , " . - "Afarch'4> [Monday]. — Si)ent Tw&sdayfind'Fridciy .V;' T^ i n cateeh izing. Monday n igh t at Mrs. Calder's. dressed from Ps. xxx. On Sabbath preached in Gaefif ' from Isa. xxvni. 1 6, and in English from Exod. xxiii.a . "March ] I. — Tuesdciy and Friday catechized.' Monday night at Mrs. Calder's. Addressed from Vs. xxx. Yesterday, preached in Gaelic from 1 Cor, iii., and in Englisly from Exod. xx|i. , Had much freedom in the forenoon, in setting before myself and •^€ osiers thedan^r of buildi^n^ d#tiheyoundation *Vood, Jiay, stubble.' A certain clergyman present to whom many viewed tlie subject as appffgatle. *' Was led to it on Saturday, and did not kno^^the-jcatise. wi . '* March. 1 8.— Tuesday last,fi*iShed the catechizing diets in the church. A jnore than ordinary crowd. . Addressed the people aai^orfclusion from Prov.-xsiiii. 23, ' buy the truth and 'sell it t^t' , Some a%cted. /n the afternoon' Wnnld in^Gaelic from Johti xyi. 9. During tlie G«#|ic sermon &n extra/ordinary degr: ■^■■V;/-:-.| .T^ I I fe; '\ ^68 COMMUNlok AT ARDEOiJaio. Ming». Mr. Ma^onJd preached ,n\ve„i„g scr^l mon at Lawers from >a. xx.ii. g. Owi„<, |'«e' -Jarkness of the hight^lthe poor people of Gle^^oL quite ^unfit for the Tournev'a sphsp nf a;« I ., V J ^M*'Jr> ** sense oi sin pressing sn* ■ Jrii"'""' '!■"' '"t'- '''"^ -"o -- awf o go hoirift next morn5f,g, bronght with them the desite to Iiear U.e eitraonjinary p;4aeher and tn &'bbath Mr. MicJonald. preached thea«tl„ :tT '" "" '^"'H day to an as^emUy rf ." peopk more numerouf than had ever met before ,V Breadalbane. His t^t was I». li.. 5. "Thy mTu ^ « h.ne husband.- The sermon was accompantd . w,th an extraordinary outpouring of the Spirt •Som. cried o«t ; othe™ were mflted into £ which many more were awakened ; so that this oc- S.e tl j''„ H " "'' "" ■""""' ^•'''' t" I-K "V I ^-tr -^ -tl- - ■-- I-V_- -- J. , \ ■ v./. SKELET«^N OF A BLESSED SeRMON, 89 \ ^■ The most raemotable sermon, tli^n and ev6r preached by hnn. was the action sermon, on a text cognate' to that on which he preached on his first communion Sab- bath at Urquhart. Hundreds pf abler sermons has he preached, but none wlii.ch the Lord more signally blessed It Afas never fujly , written out, but the following skeleton of it was found among lus papers, . and is here s^dbjoined that it mi^' serve to give an idea of the kind of preaching wliich the Lartl de- lights- to ht)^o^^^-^t w^as dellvefed in^aelic, but,, the notes were 'written by his own hand in English. ■ ■■■■ -' '■■•' -■ '^^r ' ;■ ' ■■' :'\ ''''■,■■' ■ \ " Isa. liv, 5, ' Thy Maker h tliy Iiusband.' . " Remarks on context. Consider T. The parties. 1 . The Spouse. • Every true • believer, and as • «Hpli riiarried to the I^ord. But by nature, (1 .) In a sMe of degradation^-B. child of Satan— (a slave. (2).' Dr(nmtd in defti— of . obedience to tie la w,, and of- suffering to the^ justice of God ; unabpe to pay, and •therefore a prisoner. (3.) Without spiritual beauty; but on the contrary, aitogetlier defiled, deformed, loathsome (Isa. i. 7^ Rev. iii. 17, 18; Ezek.^xvi. 6). (4| Deck?— spiritually (Ezek. xxxvii ; Iph. IL 1, 2). ! (5.) In a helplefw condition. None else would or could look after her or relieve her, nor hud she any strength in herself (6.) With all this she was full of enmity and rebellion against her Husband^— waged constant war with him — thrust the sword i into hi.? side. % The Husband. Iby Mak^rf-tUifV 'L^ j^ ■-•' ' - " ' . . ■■'■- « V ■ ' i'l I'i ■ i'-'mM ii.i V 1 "l ■ ' ■ ■ ■ ; 1 If 'i Ji •'ft <-li-' k 90 ^f+ '' ! I " THY MAKER IS THINE HUSBAND." ."» , Lord of hosts-the holy One of .Israel. God* God m our nature. Consider, (1.) His m^i/b. .The Lord ' , --Lord of lords and King of kings— tHe S6u--' honoured by all the heavenly host-adore^ by the i^deemed-the source of all created rahk and . I gi-eatness. (2:) Bis riches: The God of the whole^^ , earth-^heir of all things-^all fulness in him^ich in what the spouse needs. Rich in meriii to pay her debts, rich in grace to make' her rich-inherit, ance that fadeth not away. (3,) His. beauty (Fs. -^Iv. 2 ; Cant, ii, Heb. i. 2, 3). All created beauty from him-he t;an beautify his spouse-he can attract and ravish sinners with his beauty.- (4) His power (Isa. ix. 6, 7). As Gt,d, his power i. infinite -manifested in creation, providence, and redemp- ^ tion. Power to quicken— to deliver— to subdhe— to protect— to preserve, &c. (Ps. ex. 3). (5 ) His love. Oh w,,afc 3hall we say of this! (aee'Prov. VIII. 30, 31). He died fo^ his spo^se-she was * ' formed out of his side-^waters canno't drown his love— manifested, in rescufng her in a day of power- ' out of her wretched condition; and, after her ^pousal in abiding with her. i. compassion towards - her,^n hdding communion wirfj her, &c. And. oh v • whaAshalhts exercise be through eternity! (6.) His faUhfulnes8—in reproving her feulk, in never for- ' ^akmg her, in not receiving accusers' reports of her Obv^li^WNfaithfulish*!, ; . -^.- "^^IVte^'Gonneciicm. Marriage. ' thy husband.' ^- 1. ,..••''■:>.;•■ -:.-;- ' ■ ft. f^ 1- '% 'A. • .' ». L - P-' MAKER IS THlNe UVSBAN5.' 91 A relation is estat>lish(^d which is called^zmioTi. This is variously represented in Scripture ; an^ subsists between ever}' believer and Chrikti Here consider, 1. Christ offers himself in marriage to the soul, by the gospel, in which he reveals his excellent pro- pejpties, and offers himself to the soul as involved in the ruin described. This is the design of the glori* '^t)us doctripes and invitations of the gospel (Isa. lv."r 1-4 ; Matt xi. 2-8 ; Rev. xxii. 1 7). 2. Gospel means and ministers are employed for the purpose of repre- senting thjs proposal, (Gen. xxiv.) The apostle espoused Ci)rinthians t Christ.. Oh, what an" hon- ourable woi-k 1 How' faithful should ministers be !• 3. Their Spirit is sent forth— to make the soul sensiblefo^ his coiidition— ^to reveal CKrist it/ his properties and^ proposals — to i^iake him willing to . receivfi Him^^ — and to loose fife from every other attachmelni" ii^iom. viii. 4, ^ ; Ts. xlv. 1 ; John xvi. &-15). 4: The soul, in consequence, under a sense pf need and un worthiness, and haying a view of the pbject, approving of t]ie t)Brms and accepting of the offer, casts himself at Christ's feet-^— resigns himself to the Redeemer and follows him. This is the act of faith and closes the union, and is the foundation of all future interidi!||rse.'and communion. * My Beloved is mine.' ' '/Here is, 1. A marriage with the* consent of all parties^Father, Son, and Spirit ; law and justices; angels at^ saints. 2.^||||^derful marriiiige.'' 3. A JL 1" (. 1"' ' * t u ll •Hi t'^ #r I ■» , i 1% I ! # k , -*C4> •FnulTS OF OXii SE«MOX 't o. An lion- . 'joyful marriages 4. 4 sui;e manljtge." . ouiiible maiTi«ge. 6. An ^vei-lastir^ man lage. "in. Tlie Ii?ipp^ resuHs of thi^ marriage! Tlie spouse has from h6r liusband, in con^quence 1 A change q/ nature (John lii. 6 ; Ezek. ivi^, iri order to love. obejH and enjoy him. S, A (Mlous robe «.s f^- wedding garment-^^his own righteousness for covering, shelter, and ornament (Ps. xlv, , 1 3 ; Rev. . lii. 18). 3. Beautu, Graces ■ of the Spirit (Ps!! 5tl V. 1 ;3)r 4. Provision. F^od— drink— hght— hre-rhberty— joy, &c. 5. Profec^^ow- from enemies -x-sin, Satan; and the worid. . 6. Comrmonion. Th^ — |nient of his presence. 7. Riches. 8. Intro- pir ect - His wot-k in Pei donald most deliglttfuli passiou of fervent zeal His preaching was marvelloi power ; and of every sermoii thfei'ie was so^e fruit to God. Glenlyon and. Breadalbane ^ere ever after^/ green spots in- his memories of th# p^st*; and the remembrance of the working of ihe Lord's right . hand, in these favoured places, ofteii. cheered him when his heart was fainting in the toil of lajter ,a^d " less fruitful years. . , . , „ . ^ His visits to iPerth^hire were fr„equept thereafter^; and his s'ervices exte,nded to all thtt paris|lies to vi^iicH he could" get access. Some of .the slutobering'* stipend-lifters, 'vMiose rest had bepni^distarbecrby tlje work of God around them, locked their churches 'antkN their parishes against . him. ' One of them, when ^ 'pressed to allow him to preSMjh on a weelr^yin-hrisfcr-p parish, said,* *'* No, the command is, ' Six days shalt thop labour ; ' " insisting that the fence of this com- mand confined all preachin^^ to the Sabbath. Preaching " in season " niigfit, in 'his opinion, be ifeeful for earning a stipend, but for preaching " out of season" he had no ioleration. The matter was at last taken up by the Presbytery ; and Mr. Find- liit^ was summoned to give an account of his con- duct-in asking the wild man from Ross-shire to visit ■i' 'n •fe' \ ; r. m^ ., * %■- •■■ u ''tit i • ;!" ■ ' ' ''f Wfy. yr. V"^ . 'Hi V IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) •*r" **-;¥ v /> ^/ ..V k A k<^ ^A^ . I k ^ ■din riTUfc^mn Sdfinces Gorporalion n WMT MAIN STRHT WIUTIR,N.Y.<4SM n (71*)t72-4901 ^ / .»;. .*^ 1* 1 O^ 4 • £■ \ •■U «: 11 1 m If |! )-; ^ . TB« PBBSBITKEY OF WKBie. quiet Breadalbane. An overture to the A«embly "gainst vagrant preaching was proposed j but ere it w«, ready to take wing to Edjubui^h, the Presbytery got ashamed of their bantling andiimothered it The m.u.ster of Killin; <£' being a.ked why he had g^Z hia pulpit to the enthusiast from the north said •■ I think we might give our people a treat now 'and ^l- c^ % -J ( ^ « . f • 1 i r /^ CHAPTEiR VI. ABOUNDIXa IN LABOURS— SPINXIXaDALE—STRATHBOtilE— . AT TUB BAR or TUB ASSEMBLY. |I^ 1817 liis extra-parochial work liad already ro increased, that it was tlie smaller portion of the year he spent at home. In summer and autumn he preached but rarely in his own pulp\t Tuesday and Wednesday were the only days of any week during these seasons wh^ch he could spend in "the study;" and not unfrequently these were preaqhUig days as well as ajU the othera This amount of work was not. only cheerfully but carefully peiformed. He never delivered an extempor^ddress„„ He did not write new sermons every week, butitN)il was alwaya ready to deliver a carefully prepared discourse. It was by availing himself of every hour which he spent at home that could be devoted to study, and by acquiring the habit of carrying on a train of thought while travelling, that he was able to perform efficiently so large an amount of service. If he was officiating in a parish at some distance ' from home, he usually preached on jhis return to each intervening congregation t<> which he had accessi ***■■ 1 •^ I 1 T' 1 ■i Infill n %\m \ fi HI r 11 I k4:a.4^^ilk * K. 90 TD^SERMON AT SPINNINGDALE. ■i| Some churches were locked arrainst him, and agairmt all whom the people were most anxious to hear ; and many a wistful look he would cast at these churches as he was obliged to pass them by. In not a few instances he succeeded in opening the church for hinrself by calling on the minister, and by his genial and pleasant manner making him ashamed to nfuseliis offer of preaching to his people. By opening the minister s heart, he opened his church, witythe strong key of kindliness. But some stern me^ were proof against all such influence. ' No po\^er could move them to admit "the wild man' of Ferintosh " into their pulpits. But he would not be baulked. On the nearest spot to the forbidden ground on which he had license to preach, he would aftsemble the people of ^lie i||^nt parson, and preach to them en pasaant.ifKne of his evan- gelistic toura I v^ Having being asked by the peo{^of Dornoch, during the incumbency of Dr. Bethune^^to preach in their parish, he at ouc^ agreed to do so, if the con- sent of the parish minister were obtained ; and he appointed a day. The report of the coming sermon spread before the parish-keeper was consulted. When he was applied to foi- permission he resolutely refused it. The appointed day arrived, and the ex- pected preacher appeared, but the doctor was inex- omble, and the pathedral was closed. But the parish of Creich was not forbidden ground ; so the preacher : ^^i^^V^-"^!*' DEATH OF DR. BETHUNE. 97 ,aiid Lis congregation set off to a spot in Spinning- il « i< I by his people. The people met with me in a neigh- bouring parish where liberty was obtained for me to preach, and I believe tw^ ^or three at least were brought under serious impressions. The Lord will l.ave his own in spite of all who oppose him ; and when one door is shut he can open another." "I had a letter this day," he adds, -from a friend at " Grantown, acquainting me that the minister of Aber- nethy had j-efuseH me libeHjr to preadilh his parish though eaitestly requested by many of his people.' If the Loi^ had anything to do by me there at present, hd would have opened the way. Other places, howW are accessible. Blessed be his name! And where lie sets an open door before me, it is my ^uty to impWe the opportunity. I pity those that shut the dooi^, and pray that the Lord may lead them to a better niind." On Jiis joutneys to Aberdeen he passed repeatedly through the ^istrict of Strathbogie, which was then a spiritual wa^te. A very few Dissenters had broken ground in som^ spots of this dreary desert, but their influence was nU extensive : and aU the resounds of the Established! Church weil employed to counterac^t their eflbrts. the men who " lifted " the stipends m the parishes (kf.that district did little else besides except spending them. To read on Sabbath the pithless paragrai^hs of a musty sermon which they had at first eithbr begged, borrowed, or stolen, to a handful of sleoper^ was almost all the stipend-earning STR.VTIIDOqiE IX 1817. od work ti.ey d,d. The only zeal they ever exhibited waa when they were disturbed by the intrusion of evangehsm or dissent into their preserver The One doctrine of their creed seemed to be that there was no pce^ion to believe anything; and" judging by the,,*hves,tl;e only maxim in their code of morals w.as,/tbatar minister 'may do what he likes if he. continues in safe possession of his living. It is almost impossible. to exaggerate in describincr the ungodliness of some of these men. And yet^'they * were called ministen, of Christ, aj^ they at<. the bread ot tliat oftice without f6ar or shame ! ^ Pow many portions of our beloved land were blighted by the -graceless ministry of such men as these] How wonderful it is, that the Church which acknowledged them, should have survived such pro- vocation of God's wrath, and risen again into revived zeal for God, after so utter a decline of fervour and of faithfulness as marked her condition at the be- ginning of this century I Is it' because of the more ' public connection with his glory which Established Churches have, that the Lord has sometimes, for his name's sake, raised these from depths, where other Churches, which have fallen into them, have been left to die ? With his zeal for the salvation of sinners his constant readiness to preach, and the manifold pi^fs he had received that the blessiiig of the Lord was descending on his labours, we cannot wonder though K !.l^ ( .J ;€ ■:h^: > ■-W::-*:' .1- / v,' 100 AT THE BAR OF THE ASSEMBLY. \ Mr. MacdonaKl could not always keep sHence while I passing tfirpugh Strathbogie. In 1 817 he preached in a/ Di.^ting chapel within the founds of that presbyteryr. The "dumb dogs " who kept the parish gates, though they could not " bark," were resolved to show that they at least could bite. Tlie presbytery in hot haste took up the conduct of "the vagrant preacher " from Ross-shire, and by a reference .sent I'P a complaint against him to the Assembly. In the granite city, there lived and fectured a certain Professor who was now becoming aipbitious of a leader's place in the Church, and who, always ready to Jay out all his strength in a tilt against evangelism, headed on this occasion the crusade against " the wild man " of the north. He w^nt to the Assembly with ^ a ^censure in his pocket Discovering, on consulting with cooler headp, that there was no case against " the vagrant preacher," the consideration of the'mat- ter was putfe^off to the last Saturday #khe Assembly, that with the^'ipantier attendance th9 , m \i \ ^ :U \ 102 THE assembly's PltOCEEDINas. service, or ofclier pious purposes, as may, under the pretext of promoting religion, injure its interests, and 80 disturb the peace and order of the Church ; and in case of such meetings taking place, the presbyteries, within whosejjoueds they are held, are enjoyed to report the same to the meeting otf the Genenil Assembly ensuing.' Another motion was made and seconded, • That the Assembly, having cottsidered the references, find it unnecessary to emit any declaration relative to the subject thereof, the existing laws of the Church being sufficient to prevent the irregularity complained of, and recommend to the ministers of this Church to exercise their usual vigilance in giving due effect t?^hese laws.' "A vote was taken on these ^notions, when the^ first was carried by a considemble majority,, and therefore the General Assembly declare and enjoin in terms of the first motioa From which judgment the following members dissented, for reasons, to be given in in due form, and took instruments in the clerk's hands, viz. : Mr. James Thomsoti, I)r. Singers, Mr. John Hunter, Mr. John Rarasj^y, Thomas H. * .Millar, Esq., Di-. -Lorimer, Mr. John Robertson, Mr. John Shaw, Mr. John Paul, Mr. Walter Tait, Mr. John Macdonald of Urquhart, Mr. John Cameron, William Inglis, Esq., William Maclean, Esq." , The following remarks on the conduct of tire Assembly are from the mighty pen of Dr. Andrew Thomson: — /" ■■^Hvy-^-.- • "«fc% ^ ii^ REBIARKS BY DR. THOMSON, 103 >•' " We are aware, indeed, that the rfeferencei^ sub- mitted to the judgment otf the Assembly expressly denounced I^r. Macdonald as a delinquent. 1 But when the matter came to be ctm vassed, his delinqiiency was so far from being established, that it wal dis- proved; and though -the leading membei-s of\ the court would willingly have put him iiUo the sente\ice, and though the original draught of it, as it issded from the pockfet of Dr. Mearns, did actually reflect upon him nominatim, yet this purpose was fallen from; such an impression of Mr. Macdonafd's inno- cence prevailed, that the .most violent of his opponents acknowledged it; and the deliverance of Assembly stands upon ^he record, and descends to posterity, without .involving or touching his character in the slightest degree. For 9ur pari, we regard it with unqualified aversion ""and disdain, however much we respect the court from which it emanated, as the supreme judicatui-^ of the Church. And we shall shortly st|i||jhe, grounds on which we think ourselves necessitatea"to speak of it in terms pf such severity. In point of form it must^e called a decision of the General Assembly; but we think it right to give some explanation of the fact, so that it may be seen how far the Assembly, in faii* and liberal interpretti^ tion, is responsible for the measure. Tworefccpnces (one from the Presbytery of Strathbogie, anl aiibtfier one from the Presbytery of Aberlour) concerning alleged misconduct on the part of a paiticular" r ■% i^ 1 5 I t .:/:. lOi Dl». MKAlO-8 IN TUB ASSEMBLY. i '■ individual, consisting in vagrartrt , preaching, were transmitteJItd tlje Assembly^ They were not tikeii into considemtion until the Saturday before the court rose, on which day, it is well known, a great proportion of the members have left town, and any mischievous proposal has a better chance of being carried through. We^do not positively affirm that the delay was intentional; but our suspfcion that it was so is too strong and too well grounded to be rfemoved by any declaration to the contrary. How-, ever that may have been,- it is certain that the case was not taken up till the Saturday ;'ihat few members, comparatively speaking, were present; and that it was determined, not only^^yritjipjut unanimity, but after a vigorous though ine^tdal opposition^ We shall soon see its merits;'*but,"in the meantime, it is proper to bear these things in mincf, and to recollect,, further, that the judgment finally pronounced was tlie production of Dr. Mearhs of Aberdeen- ^who seemed anxious to try his skill in the work of legislation, and wlipm his friends, we suppose, did not like to disappoint or discourage in his 'fii-st attempt. First attempts are generally Awkward; -aii4«o fares it with this production of the Ifeamed •doctor's; for a ^ore awkward, clumsy, stupid thing ^e never saw inlhe sBape of an ecclesiastical decision. It Js a sort of monster,' springing from the union of mad zeal and ignorant assurance. ^ ^Really its reverend author should'^not set up as a J MR. MACDONALD l^'NOT CEN>Uk>fD. ' JO.-} leader irt the General Assembly — Ne autur ultra crepidam. Ah^ realiy the General Assembly would consult its own dignity^ and the good of the Church, by expunging from :its record what he has already, thfough some strange oversight, got inserted in' it, in the shape of a rfedaration; .and, moreover, by,puh- strtuting in its place a resolve, that no proposition of his in^futui-e shall be allowed the benefit of mi ' Jiacussiota, till-il has lain twel^mobthsonD^e table/ "The references which ^ve rise.V the decisibn * accused Mr. Macdonald of Urquhak.of irregular- ' ^practices in the -function- of preaching! It was his^ cdhduct which these documents statedXto be the ground o( the -application. It was his con^hyiot which - ev%ry one of theTjpeakers, in supporting tlSm,- made the subjecr^ their animadversion.-: 'And it was his, conduqt wl^ich the motion, in its original form, an — ^oncoct«d (shkll we say)} at Aberdeen, was intended to oensure,and -condemn, • 3ut every pei-sori who had the naisery to be present when the matter was reasoned, must recollect how Mr. Maedonald's ccyidtict ^ was, in the course of thp debate, so completely vindicated, that not evtn Uie most fiercs^and un- reasonable of his opponents could persist in their primary determination to find him guilty. Every ofie seemed to We with another in declaring that he ■J wrtS not only a good n^nritlid a usefulv minister in general, but quit© imlocent and blameless in the particukr ^camples bi-ought forward to U^ prejudice. ■ ' . ._,:• -,-...._. _,^.. _y^^«l-:,^v- — — ■iT /." t li- !:■; 'Tv .'1^ ili' . <*. -.1 ■ s vs ^ ;' . !• (■ i- i'! SIN WINKED AT— ZEAL COXDKMNED. " And accordingly, tlje sentence found no fault with him— did not even mention his name^ho, nor made the remotest allusion to anything* h^ was alleged to have done. How ridiculous, theii; is the sentence ! ^ "T/ie. reference and discussion are all about Mr Macdonald— the sentence in which they issue keeps as clear n for his goodness I ' I had .certainly much cause to acknowledge his mercies to us ftt this time, forbad the accident been such as not to admit of our gating forward, (which, had the mast broken a f^ feet lower than it did, would have been the case), (neither could we have made our way back, but niust, in that event, have been at the miercy of the elements. ,J«f -bc^carried wtHtbersoever wind and seaiiright lirivff : , H j! ».! ( : 5/ :i I 'I 116 HE REACH^ ST. KILDA. 1. ;:<, . IIS, and at that time for anything we knew, into the Northern Ocean. Finding, when we reached 3t. ' Kilda, that, owing to the boisterous (state of the wind, ^nd its moikring on shore, we could not effect a landing on thie eastern coa^t, which is the only landing-place even for a boat on the whole island, we veered about to the leeward on the. north-west side of the island, and \n a little loch or arm of the sea, got the boat under shelter, and leaving it in charge ^ of the crew till the weiather would admit of bringing ^ it round, the master and I stepped ashore, having "nearly two miles to walk before reaching the village, which is situate on the .eastern bay. The feelings of my mind, however, on this occasion, were beyond description. I had- no sooner got my foot on ^t." Kilda ground than I trust I was enabled to praise the Lord for His great goodness in preserving me on the mighty waiters, and bringing ip6 to my much wished for\^destination ; and also tef^ pray that, having so far made my jour^y-prosperous, ne would crown with much success the object of my mission. " When descending the brow of -the hill above the village, we observed some -person standing without, and, on a shdden, in consequence as we afterwards learned of his sounding' the alarm, all the soulsin the village appeared at once, at first flying in different directions, uptil- they discovered from what quarter the strangers were coming, when they made toward U8 in. a btfdy " ^ ohook bands with their tackamanr and- * r^ 111 / FIRST SERMON m Sy. KILD.C 117 welcoiilied him to the place. After these sahitations were over, he mtroduced me to them as a minister who had come to visit them, and was sent by the Society. Upoii th^s, thty immediately shook hands with /me as if we had been many years acquainted, j^nd,/' God bless the Society which sent him, and God bless him for coming,' was the general exclamation. }\r M'Lellati and I then entered the house where the late missionary resided, and which is at present occupied by a Gaelic teacher lately sent to the island. I# consists of a pretty large room with 'two>concei4ed sds and a kitchen, and is to be our accommodation ^hile we remain in the island. • "After taking some refreshment, it being now four /clock, I intimated my intention of preaching, and .that worship should commence about six. Word soon spread — for the houses being all built in a clus- ter, a cry, which served as a church-bell, was heaid over the whole town; and at six we all met in the school-house, which is also the only barn in the place, and a sort of common property. It wa.s sufficient to accommodate the inhabitants, who, I believe, were all prep^nt. — Preached to them, as an introductory discou;«ie, on the angel's message to the shepherds (Luke 11. 10, 11), and was much pleased with the attention the people seemed to give to the Word. . On retiring to rest, I felt peculiarly happy that I had no\^^been enabled to commence my labours among I pm\t5d earnestly' tlwit the Lord- ^- I\ ■■"WR"" I* '■ ^^ M CQNVKRSATION WITH THE PEOPLBi. Would direct rae buth what and ..how to speak io them, and make his own Word, by the accompanying influence of the Spirit, effectual in their salvati The scenes of the day also had their full impr on my mind at this time. m, " iodem die, Sept. 16.— This day, ffin^fe that" owing to their work at the harvest an4 busJHSs wjjtli^ tlie tacksman, the people codld ^not conveniently assemble -before six or seven in the evening, I spent a good part of the day in visiting and ^co^versing with them at the shearing. The- whole people, old and young, were out at once, and ever^ family en- gaged in j^ting down its little croft. Findii^ the people tius employed, I entered on some familiar con ver^tioni' with thc^m, in order to- become a little acquainted with their views and habits, particularly in regard to religion. Found that they are fond of receiving and relating newa Endeavoured to gratify them as much as I could, and they in' return enter- tained me with all the little tales of their island. 1 found that this gave me ^'SJiiSl^^^'^ ^ their, minds, and enab||l' me with ^^^HH&? inti:;u|i||e, sibv^ and then, something abdHHHn^m^; for as yet w^ were not sufficiently prepared for entering fully on the subject. To such hints as were brought forward, they listened with attention and gave a ready assent,, btitii^said very little, which I imputed to a degree of frtjAfitlnrnn at this early stage of our acquaintance Vvalked nbout thus from one group— to-anothor in c / /; ^ing 1 1^:%' bbat iitly )ent sing old 1 en- tile * iliar Lttle arly I of •tify tej-- 1 ndi r on: ard, lent,, e of ncci J ^^^afr •/^:.' 4 FREACHiySi-Jtae 119 order to prevent jealousy, for where- all are on a par, IS is the case here, to make any distinction would ■ appear invidious. -. " PreacLed to them in the evening from Rom. iii. 2 1 , on the nature, the evil, and the extent of sin. They .' all seemed attentive, and some discovered signs of being affected, as if the view givttk,them of tl^ subject' was -different from what they had l)een accustoiiiied to entertain, and had therefore occasioned them some alarm; After sermon, I .explained to them more fully the object? of poy mission, and the views which the Socie^ had in sending the evening, frpfn Bom. iii. 19, compared with Gal iii 10, on man's natural statd under the la^, as being under the - curae. All liotonod with uncommtHf-afetetttit i J 'i ' ■>l ' '" ''' ■ ■ iili' if ■ >>>.|Hf3:| > ' ''" ■ft i 4 ■ 1 . '/ :i m i \ 'r fBmWMMt ■ . 4 -«■ V,- •^v Il %'. >. i^' ! -J- 120 ST. KILDA. evidentlj impressed. The Lord deepen such im- pressions ! "Wednesday, Sept 18. — This day a number of the men with two boats (all the boats on the island), set off in quest of solan geese for the island of Boreray, about four miles directly to the north of thia The men being thus employed, I topk a Walk round the island, and after returning from this ex- cursjbn, i called at the fields where the women were employed in the absence of their husbands. Had some»convei;gation with them on religious subjects, and was agreeably surprised at finding that they could repeat many of the questions of the Shorter Catechism, although tbey understood little of the meaning of them. Upon asking them if there was any person on the island distinguished for religion, they told me that there ^as none at present remark- able in that way; but that a few years ago, there lived among them a young man of singulai* piety, — that he scarcely did anything else than read his Bible and pray — that he lived quite above the world — that they were not worthy of him — and tftat there- fore the Lord took hira to himself. He died, it would appear, at the age of nineteen or twenty. V "Preached in the evening from 'Rom. iii 20, on the indpossibility of justification by the deeds of the Jaw. I could perceive that some felt affected, and seemed as if the|r were disposed to ask, 'What must we do ? ' The Lord grant that this may be the case mi: m' IPT*?'''?"" Mi: 1 PREACHING THE GOSPEL. 121 KIT- in realityi It is ditlicult to storm the citadel of th^ 8iiinfeT*s -heart — many a siege will it bear, yet " nofEing is too hard for the JLprd.'* " Thursday, Sept. 19. — Took a trip this day in .one of the boats belonging to the island, with my kind friend Mr. M'Lellan, to fe()rera|: We had scarcely approached its lofty rocks-wfcen the sblStT^ geese, which frequent this island and ^he Lee Rock ^ in its immedidte vicinitjf, flew about us in immense shoals like thick showers of show, and seemed to darken the sky above our heada The sight was truly astonishing, and far exceeded any anticipations I had formed. The old ones only fly about, and chiefly in quest of fish for their young. These, having got immensely fat, and their wings not being yet sufliciently grown to enable them to fly, recline on the rocks, exhibiting every sympton of ease and inaction. After taking a full view of the island and of its feathered inhabitants, returned/ home in the afternoon both gratified and astonished. ' . "On our way home we attempted to catch some fish, but were unsuccessful. Report says that thei-e IS abundance of fish of various kinds about the island, and yet it is remarkable that the inhabitants never employ themselves in. that way, and seem to havd ~ neither turn nor inclination for it,^ -, ' "Preached in the evening from Rom. iii. 21, on the righteousness of Christ as the ground of the •^justification^ Wliil o gp c akiiig of^-ibe^ Rw M •Ct'-B^i'^^'-^*' ~ ?' ■ V"i 1^ ■M\jy • 4 '"1 i I VI '11 1.^ I*Sn'Hi&^%*^t* I* -3 »«*##>■%'#* I- l\ < I! ! t' / !' 4} :/fV. 122 ST. KILDA. deemer's sufferings, some appeared to be deeply im- pressed^ and there was something lik.e a melting under tiie woi^d. The cross, I see, is that chiefly which moves the sinner. *They shall look upon Him whom they have pierced and mourn.* * And I,' says Clirjst, * if I bey lifted up from the earth, will dmw all men unto me. " Friday, Sept. 20. — Walked about a par^ ||p|fl)ia dajg and conversed with such of tlie peopl^ lifi . <$^me in iny way on tli^r spiritual concerns. Feel that I ought to let slip no opportunity of doing so — that I am in a manner accountable for them in the day of the Lord — and that ere another messenger may visit them, there is every moral certainty that some of those I now see will be in eternity. How over- whehning the thought, if these perish for ever, and perish through my negligence ! Felt in consequence of this impression more than an ordinary concern for their salvation, and prayed to God for them. " I preached in the evening, from Rom. iii. 22, on the manner of becoming interested in the righte- ousness of Christ. During the discourse, some, both old and young, were afl*ected even to tears; and among others, an old man upwards of sixty years pf nge. We must leave results, however, with the Lord. • 7 •" -^ , "Saturday, Sept 21. — The day being uncom- monly mild, as indeed have been the last four or five da ys , T tppk ft w ftl k, in ord|fer to meditatfi in the vi e w /I ■ 'v^m-r- ephraim's goodnkss. 123 of this evening and to-morrow's service!, and passed the remaining part of the day in my roojpa for tlie same purpose. The Gaelic teacher told me that he saw this morning one of the people engaged earnestly at prayer in the fields — ' A-^new thing,' says he, ' in St Kilda.' Pj:-eached in the evening from Rom. . V. 1 , on the effects of justification. Felt rather dull and lifeless, and my hearers appeared to be so too. That ' a dead ministry makes a dead flock,' is a^ old remark, which I' fear holds but too true. *' Monday,. Sept 23. — Preached yesterday in the forenoon from John xvi. 7-1 5, on the work of the Spirit. Enjoyed much liberty during almost the w^ole service, and especially when pointing out how /the Spirit 'guides to all truth, and glorifiesi» Chr^V Many were affected, and at one time almost all ^•ere in tears ; among others, two young people about ten and twelve. But these impressions, I fear, are of short duration ; for after retiring, and during 'the interval, I observed the people standing here and ' there in small parties, and apparently discovering ^little concern about what they heard^ except, as I have been told,, that they were more silent than usual on these occasions. An individual indeed, here and there, seemed to separate himself from the rest, and lean on a garden wall, or some other object, as if musing on something. But with these excep- tions, a general decay of impression marked almost =^ 4iBftgine tbat-4~her e^ u lili M I I ( >i / *' }r. : I ( t' 11' 11 il ii ttl— tJ- ; .«^ i ii 124 ST. KILDA. |»lea,d for austerity ot nioroseness in religion. But there is a season in the life of every man, who, afber having been thoughtless about salvation, becomes in earnest, and obtains mercy, when he must be sensible, of danger and pierced with sorrow, and on such oc-v ciisions, when the heart is full the countenance can- not easily conceal it. In some parts of the country - I have seen such impressions as I have witnessed • this day, drive men to their Bibles, and to a throne of »grace. But these poor p6ople cannot read, and how to pray they know not. The Lord pour out upon them the Spirit of grace and supplications ; then shall it be said of each of them, as of Saul of old, * Behold, he prayeth ! ' The want of knowledge is a sad bar to conversion. In the parable of the sower, it is of those who heard and understood the word, that it is said, they ' brought forth much fruit ;' and without some degree of knowledge every impression is but as 'the morning cloud and the early dew which passeth away.* In order, therefore, to stimu- late them to the duty of prayer, I preached in the evening from John xvi. 24, * Ask, and ye shall re- ceive ;' when I took an opportunity of explaining the duty and pointing out the encouragements to prayer. I hope the word spoken had some effect. The *Lord grant it may be lasting ! After ser- mon I bapt^ed a child — the only one in the place needing that ordinance at present, two having died since ~thr missioiiary^ left theisland. The child^ T«i« ■|> "■ A DAY WITH THE LORD. 125 father, Jobit Ferguson by name, is the only person in the place who can read, at least to any, purpose. Found him, therefore, much better acquainted with the principles of Christianity than his neighbours. Preached in the evening from 2 Ck»r. v. 17, on being in Christ. The dbctrine seemed new to tha people ; and several of them were deeply impressed and in tears ; among others the old man formerly mentioned as above sixty. A circumstance, other- wise trivial, yet As it indicates the anxious wish of the people to hear the word, and not to lose a single Opportunity for that purpose which " can be com- manded, deserves, here to bd mentioned. Some time before the hour' of meeting for sermon, it became doubtful, owing to the boisterous state of the even- ing, whether the lamps would burn in the house, and therefore whether there could be sermon. This was no sooner rumoured abroad, than a number of active young men among them immediately set about re- pairing the roof, and in half an hour made it. quite comfortable, adding, * There shall be sermon indeed,' and ' we shall not lose a single night' This eager- ness on their part both pleased and encouraged n\e much. • , " Wednesday, Sept. 25. — The people were much occupied to-day with Mr. M'Lellan in settling rents, &C. I tlierefore had little opportunity of conversing with them, and spent much of the day in retire- ( ii I !• ,-■ ■ . § i> ' ■' 'I' rM ment. Feel it pleasant to have access to God on all iV i4^^/i^S^J\3i^iu^i4fJ^ •> : I; ^\ f 126 ST. KILDA. occasions ; and latnent much how little I avail my- self of the privilege. To enjoy Him would more than make up for all the inconveniences of solitude and (seclusion. Preached in the evening from. 2 Cor. )y. -ITV on the new creature; and Gope I was enabled to be l^ithful and searching. Many^Vere affected. Thursday, Sept. 26. — This day Mr. M'Lellan hav- ing^intiimated to me that, wind and weather serving, he hoped to be able to leave the island to-morrow, I had my hands full. At an early hour, therefore, in the afternobn, I held a diet of examination, which was pretty numerously attepded._ JBjeard thd' people through most of the questi<^ns, which they repeat with tolerable accuracj^ but ate extremely deficient as to any knowledge of the meaning of them. They listtjned, however, with attention to such illustrations as were offered. Concluded with an iiddress on the Shorter Catechism — the excellency and comprehen- siveness of its system, and the confirmation whicli every part of it receives from Scripture. I therefore recommended to them to meditate carefully on its contents ; and to ask the divine blessing to accom-> pany it ; stating that this was the more necessary in their case in consequence of their not being able to read the Sci-iptures for themselves. It was easy to see the expression of acquiescence in every coun- tenance. At this and the preceding diet, all the families iif the island were examined. "Atler the examination^ r TieTd7 along with Mr. '" •"1, '• *>■ t ' ' A HIS WORK DRAWING TO A CLOSE. 127 M'Lellan and wie Gaelic teacher, a meeting something like what mightj, pass in St. -Kilda for a justice of peace court, in order to settle little differences that might exist among the people ; and was pleased to find, much tp their credit, none of any consequence, except one relating to marriage. " Preached in the evening from 2 Col:, v. 1 7, on the new creature — a continuation of last night's snbject. Many during the whole time were much impreased ; but ' towards the conclusion, when* I hinted jhat this pro- bably might be t^e last opportunity Igpould have of addressing them, they all began to weep. The scene was truly affecting, and quite overcame me. I con- cluded as abpiptly as I could, — for to continue was irapossi^lfejr^by earnestly exhorting them to re- member what they had heard since we met, and this once to accept of Christ, and to labour to become new creatures, as that only preparation for that happy place where friends ineet to part no more. " Thus I have concluded my labours among these people, after having preached to them thijAeen times, besides other services, and repeated conversations with them on the momentous concerns of eterpity. What the result is. He alone knows who has said, ' My word shall not return to me void ;' but I can with truth say, that I enjoyed much comfort in the work,' and that 1 hope my poor * labours shall not be In vain iiji the Lord.* It becomes me to speak with modesty nnd caution as to any real effect produced. ™¥ctTr ! , ;♦ ■.!• i^.\ iili 1 kt I ilk. \i^ia^ ■ " l.\l 1 1 IW. 128 ST. KILDA. few, at least five or six, appear to be under serious impressions ; "while the general body seem to feel, more than an ordinary concern about their eternal interests; and, I would fain hope, a greater degree of prepossession in favour of the gospel, than has hitherto appeared among them. May the Lord 'count when he writeth up the people, that this and that man were born there.' It affects my heart not "^^.aJittl^Jp the prospect of leaving them, that I shall have no opportunity for a long while to hear of them, or how they come on, such is^lhe infrequency of communication, with the island. But it is consoling to think that they ar^ under His care ' who feeds his flock like a shepherd, and who gathers the lambs with his arms, and carries them in his bosom.* And I reckon it no small privilege to the people, in exist- ing circumstances, that the Galelic teacher among them is a person who i^ able to instruct and direct them in the ways of the Lord, and who discovers every disposition on his part to follow up the in- structions they have received. * "Friday, /Sep^, 27.7— This morning, the weather being moderate, an^the wind west and south-west, quite in our favour, we hast^ied to get the boat launched, and everything on board, in order to our departure. When all was got ready, about nine \ o'clock, and we had been taking leave of the in- habitants, all of them in a body (children not ex- '.^ ,r' ■ a t *' a i /-«-.■. PARTING AND PRAISE. 129 and tears, in which my landlord and i were obliged to share, we shook hands with tLem and bade them a final adieu ! / " The scene it is impossible for me to describe, but it reminded me of Acts xx. 38, 'Sorrowing most of all — that they should see hi» face no more.' And they literally expi-essed themselves so. After we had got umier weigh, they ascended the brow of a steep hill, And sat following us 'with their eye, till our little bark, at the distance of £fteen or twentv miles, became no more visible."' His journal. thus concludes, "All praise to the Lord who has thus brought me back in safety; who protected me during the whole of my jdnmeyings ; preserved me in health, though often exposed on sea and land to the injuries of the weather and change of situation; ena^bled me comfortably, and I trust not without some success, to accomplish the object of my mission in visiting St Kilda, and labouring among the poor inhabitants for nearly a, fortnight ; opened for me doors of usefulness in many other places, which but for this jaunt I might never have visited ; gave me also, I htfp^, a heart in some measure to delight in his work, and to occupy such opportunities for addressing immortal souls as came in my way, so as during an absence of nearly eight weeks, not to be a single day without being thus more or less employed ; and, finally, permitted me lintQ Aid^jny^iamily ftnd flock-4B-^tefort^ aftef^ (108) 9 : f j 1 1 1 , ..' .,., ; ■ If* " /■ ■ -_>. .■:; - ■ ■^. ■'...■ '^ ■ ■ . . -" ■* . . ■» ■...■-.■ ; .1 130 ... - ■ ■ ■ ST. KILDA. ,~ '' - the mutu • lal anxiety which the total want of com- '-; - ! - f. ' ■ A ■■■■ ' -i ■ ■ municatio Jjasioned they «Higl thaiiksgik things fc life may in between us had tor so long a period oc- us. These are ch-cumstances which, while it to humbl&^e in the dust, call aloud for ing and praise to Him. Wko has done all | rme.f: Oh, maV He gitii|ft|Uiat my spared be devoted more than ev^V^to His glory." * ■ ' .■ ,: . ■ ;, ..••■. ■. ^ ■ .:k ■ B V ill-- ■ 1 f % ■ \' : J „: ;' V' . I. 1" ',;» ■ ' 1 1 ; i. { ] 1 t-. ■ r ' ' ' - < i 1 V [ ^f v. 1 ^^0|■ .' [ ■■ i ■' 1 1 J 1 I '•■ /^ ■ '' ■■' " . • '" „.....■■■■■■■ "V ' 1 i 1 Hi: A ■: -I 1 1 LI : : ■ ■ ■ .' .a . : ...._„» ......"^ ..-. _- ^^ • 1 1- G- ill ) CHAPTER VIIL DECLIITES A CALL FROIC EDI5BVR0H— PREACHES lit tOKDON — BETISIT8 ST. KiLDA. FEW weeks after his return from St. Eilda he went to Edinburgh to dispense the sacrament of the Supper in the Gaehc chapel, which was then again vacant. He was importuned, at that time, to accept a call from his former congregation, the managers offering to ^ give him a stipend of £400. In reference to this 7 proposal he writes to Mra Macdonald, in a letter dated Nov. 19, 1822 : "I was offered £400 a year, if I would come back to Jhfi-^aelic chapel ; but though the translation might be desirably for the sake of a rising family, how could I part with dear Uirquhart?" " . In the beginning of the following year, he received a letter from the Secretary of the B5ndon Missionary Society asking him, in name of the\pirectors, to / preach one of the anniversary sermons in behalf 0f f the Society at their meeting in May. He had never been in the great metropolis before, and would find :H:i ''\ m m m t :|'.. '^■' ,.*!?■■■>■•! Hli «i himsiplf alone anwng stmngers if he went ; he had ~^ i♦■i^ 132 CALLED TO PREACH IN LONbON. f i not then Required the facility and accuracy as an" , English Speaker to which he afterwards attained ; .he feAra^ihat unfounded expectations might be cherished by those who already spobfe and wrote of him as the great Evangelist of the North ; and with his modest estimate of his own attainments, he could not but shrink from agreeing to the request of the Society, But, years before, he had resolved never to decline ^an invitation to preach if he could possibly accept of it, and had made it for a long time a special sub- ject of pfayer, that the Lord would give him readiness to preach, without prejudice to the truth; on every occasion, however sudden the call, and however for- midable the audience. He had been encouraged also to hope, that the Lord would answer his ciy / and this was an occasion to test the firmness of his'reso- lution, and the steadfastness of his faith. He yielded not to his fearsL The following letter is his reply to the invitation of the Society : !C" ■ ■ • . , ' " UkQCHART BfAMSK. BT DI^'aWAI.^ . ' 12lhMatxh,1823. "Rev. Dear Sir,--I wag duly favoured with yours of the 25th ultimo, requesting me, in name of the^ Directors of thq London Missionary Society, to pifeach one of the Anniversary Sermons before them in May, in behalf of the said Society. After hesi- tating foi; some days, oo grounds a detail of which IS unnecessary, I beg leave to inform you, that I have come to the conclusion of complying with the ! { *?^ *■ ^'■m v^-^i^^-'-^'mx^wz •4 IMPRESSIONS OF LONDOy. 133 request of the Director. I might plead my insuffi- ciency in ma^y respects for this important service; but I hope never to shrink from a duty, however arduous, while T read in the Sacred Record, 'Our sufficiency is of God.* "May He plead the cause wliich is his own. and strengthen .His pervants, and unworthy me, on that occasion to dischai^e our duty as those who ;nust give account! " Wishing for you and the bireciors much of the Divipe. Presence in the very ipiportont and useful lal^ttra i^ which you are engaged, I remain. Rev. Dear Si^aithfully and respectfully yours, ^ : . "John Macdoxald." 5®^ journey to London, not so easy then as now, was safely accomplished; and he finds himself . for the first time amidst the Babel bustle, and the religious dissipation of a London Ma3^ He at- tended regularly the great religious meetings, and thus conveys to Mrs. Macdonald his impressions of them : — " Since writing to j'ou last, I have l^een very much occupied, though not in mjr usual way Both on Sabbath and on week-days 1 have been a regular, and I have the vanity to add, a most attentive hearer. I have not yet attempted to open my northern mouth in the great and polished metropolis. On Sabbath, I beard a plain, sound, nnd .gnmoi vT.nt — 1:1 ill!' I t W: II hj, - V^; .^ 134 LONDON. ■■ ; ijj P10U3 d^soourse from the Bishop of Gloucester, in St Martin's Church. In the afternoon I heard ik Mr Daniel WUson's chapel, but was disappointed at not hearing himself, although the discourse I heard (from a Mr. Webster), was a pretty good one. I still however, hope to hear this man of renown before I leave London. On Tuesday, I attended the meeting of the Church Missionary Society, which was very interesting. On Wednesday, at a meeting of the British and Foreign Bible Society. I seemed to myself, for a time, to have been transported to the very suburbs of heaven. 'The scene was truly elec trifymg. To have seen and heard Wilberforce, Tinsittart, Teignmouth, Gambler, and others, plead . so warmly and ably the cause of the Bible, and giving the sanction of their rank and talent to its spread in the world, would have given joy to any heart not shut up against every benevolent, not to say religious, feeling This day I have just returned from. the meeting .of. the Hibernian Society. The Duke of Gloucester wa\ in the chair. The narrative lead, and the speeches delivered, all tended to im- press the audience with a deeper interest in loner neglected Ireland. I have heard sermons every dav of this week preached on behalf of these and other institutionsL" When he wrote the letter from which ^he pre- ' eedmg extract is taken, he had not delivered his own Hermon. In ref erence to the prospect of doing so he ji*..,^, _.: ^ t =^" „ tSftl^ m - ^-5;»r5<^v-,a|^!y M U I-'JND^N EXPERIENCES. ^ 1« writes : " My own share of the public laboiir^is soon to come on. If this reaches you in time, think of m^, on Thursday evening in Tottenham Court Road Ghapeli and pray that I may be strengthened with strength fiom on high ; and that the Redeemer may bnng glory to himself through my poor laboui^l This is all I desire; and neither ftime, nor human applailse." On the day after he preached, he writes : « Last evening, through the kindness of the Lord, I dis- charged the leading duty for which I clme to London. Though surrounded by upwards of three thousand strangers, a tithe of whom were clergymen . I have reason to pmise the Lord, that I was e'lmbled for an hour and a half to speak with considerable ease and freedom. What effects ensued the Lord only knows; but I trust He was present, nay, I verily believe it. This I ascribe to the prayers of Christians m London and in the north. The subject was the outpouring of the Spirit; the text, Acts ii. 17, 18. I delivered the sermon without my notes, and felt more at ease on that account" • As to the sermons preached by his colleagues he writes: « They were, upon the whole, able. In some of them there was a want of unction; but this is a quality which neither talent nor literature can supply." " I have now met," he adds, " and mingled with many Christians in London. This is. indeed a wpnBQn o f ro li^ Io u M dissiimt ion. 1 enjoy it as yet, :; l^n 136 LONDON. but I would soon tire of it This evening I -sat down at the Lord's table, in Orange Street Chapel, with many clergymen and othera The scene was pleading and solemn ; and I hope the service has done me good. Mr. Rowland HiU presided. He seems, indeed, to be bearing fruit in his old age. 'They have almost exiled ibe,' he said,.* from the communion of the Chlirclj'; ''btit they cannot expel me from the communion of the Lord's dear people no, neither here, nor hereafter.' " Having once preached, calls for his services be■ r ^determine when I return, and the whole service of Saturday in Gaelic, arid a share of table services on Sabbath. Mr. Scu/e: a sermon in Gaelic on the Fast-day, and an English sermon on Sabbath evening, with table services. Mr. Mackintosh [now Dr.], the action sermon in English, and a Gaelic sermon on Monday. Mr. Flyter: table services on^abbath, and an English sermon on Monday. In these things you will have to act the clergywoman." Often during his frequent absence from home did Mrs. Macdcnald act the part which he thus assigns to her. Most sensible was he of his cause of grati- tude to God, in having one to conduct his corres- pondence, who could do so with rare ability, and who waa disoosed to be helpful to him, for his work's, and for his Master's, sak^, a£i well as for his own. After his return from London he resiimed his wonted work at home. But his thoughts were ever returning to St Kilda ; and he takes the earliest opportunity of revisiting it. At the very beginning of the following summer, he starts for St. Kilda, and gives in his journal the following account ©f his landing, reception, and labours there: — v. " We had no sooner appeared in sight than ti5te people flew down to the shore to meet us, and stood in a body on the shelving rock on which we were to land, to receive ourselves and our little hnrk. We m : if' had no sooner effected a landing (which, owing to ;) , jfe. 133 S ST. KILDA. ■ill the mild state of the weather, was not^difficult), than they all pressed around me, and grasped my hand each in his turn, when I thought they wouia have J^rung the very blood out of it Few words'passed for a mmute or two, but tears trickled from every eye. I was overcome myself. At last silen9e broke and; says one here and there. ' This is. a surnfise;^ *This is more than we looked for.' ' We Httle ex- pected to see his face again (for they .aa'dresaed themselves. to. one another), God bless him for this visit. He will bless him whatever becomes t)f us ' After I could speak, for God knows my heart was ull, I told them I came once more to see them, at the request of the Society in Edfnjjurgh, who took an interest in their welfare. < Many, many blessings on the head of the Society for their attention to us and foK^sending you among us.' 'And now that I have come,' said I, ' to labour for a short time amonc.- you I trust you will endeavour to make good use of the opportunity thus afforded you.' , ' Yes, yes ' say they, 'as we can, and the Lord enabfe us to do so. All hands were now called to unload the bo^t and haul it ashore—u process whicli took them nearly three hours, so that it was about eight o'clock before we reached the vill'age. We immediately entered the old barn in which we were Mront'to assemble, offered prayer and praises to God for His mercies, and especially His kindness in permitting us to meet again ; and so closed the scene of fh^ A.y ^ A'\''^' c X.: PROGRAMME OF WORK. .139 ! i * ^' And what thanks can I render to the God of all my mercies for bringing me hitherto, and causing me once more to see a poor handful of people who had been much on my heart since I left tjjem May I be enabled to improve the opportunity 1 have/and may my poor labours while among them, seconded by His divine power, prove subservient to His glory, and to their eternal welfare. ' "Before dismissing the people, I stated ^o them what I intended should be the plan of my future, labours among them, and that besides meeting for service once a day as formerly, we should also meet foi* an exercise, somewhat resembling family worship, when I should read jv chapter of Scripture and make some observations on it, calculated to instruct them in its meaning and to point out the improvement they should make of it. I told them that it W my wish to direct their attention as much as possible to the Scriptures ; and that< if we miet in the morning, which I conceived would be the most gonveniedt season of the day, as interfering less with their other business,' this would be a proper way of commencing the day, and the exercise might be of use to them in carrying on their daily occupations.. They gladly assented, and with one voice replie(]^' We can easily manage our other business, and what is everything else to this ?' We accordingly fixed^ on the hours of from seven to nine in the morning for the lecture, mid from six to eight at nigliFfor sermon. It: (|I|-^:^M # ' • * iij! f ■ :l !:it I* ( m IL 140 \ ST. KILDA. /' Saturdix^ May 1 4.— Met thmlfidrinng^t^e^jen agi-eeabl^to J^t night's ^pointment. Re^d and made sohfe -general observations on Roni. i., intend- ing to continue this epistle 4n course as containing a complete summary of Ohristiand. .ctrine. The people attended hiost punctually, and listened with gr^t earnestness , Spent the forenoon in retirement, pre- paring chiefly for the duties of the Sabbath. lii the evening at six we met for sermon.. I addressed 4he people from Rom. i. 9-12, on Paul's fee^ngs with regard to the Christians at Rome, his ardent desire to see them, and the great end he had in view in wishing to have his desire fulfilled. When mention- ing sbme circumstances 'of resemblance in my 6wn case regarding t|iem they were much affected Nothing but kindness wiH melt the heart of man. The Lord bestow pn me more of Paul s spirit, love to human souls, and devotedness to. his own gloiy ''Monday, May 1 6— Yesterday forenoon ai,d afternoon lectured jfrom Luke viii. 11-16 on the parable of the sowfer, and in the evening preached .from verse 18 of the ^me chapter, 'Take heed how ye hear.' Both during the day and in the evening tlie people appeared much affected, and discovered a greater degree of solemnity and composure (s^ thing like a visible sanctity) in h^ng the word^ than I have hithertb observed. I was gmtified yesterday morning by sHing the children assemble in school to read the R nripttffj>H nnrl h^r Ln arl,^ y neartng ■ m .,'* ♦ A DAY S WORK. 141 sipg the praises of*^od with their teacher, an exer- ^agejh which they have made great proficiency and for wKicfr-TBuch^jpraise is due to their instructor: Thus 'out oU thexmouthsUf-baheiand sucklings has _ihe LoW ordajned^raise/ "^This day we had our morning exercise jat gpven, from which not an individual was absent I read and. made observations to them from Rom. ii./and" in the evening preached from Acts xvi 14, on the Lord's opening the heart of Lydia. During the whole of the sern^jbn the people appeared to be deeply concerned, and there seemed to be sometMng like the opening of hearts to receive the word. After concluding, two children were baptized, which were all that had come to the world since I left the island' excepting oixe which died soon after it was born. In the baptism service I took an opportunity of guarding the people against the dangerous ertor of • supposing baptism to be synonymous with regenera- * tion or essential to salvation. They acknowledged they, had gone into that error, but that they had n&ver heard it corrected or exposed. I was pleased with their candour and openness to conviction. " Tuesday, May 17.— The people were much occu- pied during the day; the men, in delivering each his quantity of feathers to the tacksman ; and the women, on the hill, to which they have to go t\^ice a day to milk the cows and sjieep, so that I had few to con- verse with. I spoke,iioW(BW!7^d such A^ cam^ in ■m i'i. i ( i: I! " li; 'i i>t (^ . } n I 149 " ' \ ST. KfEDA. my way.reg.,rd,% their irtmorul interest, and found ^ "'"Vf!"- "Bierstandings seemed to be more opeh ^ and their hearts more actiBssible to the truth. Oh' '; . let me not despair, though t should not see instanced '- of sudden conversion. Th. seed beW ground may be making progress though I see;itflot. The pro- " cess of vegetation in the seed- which feU into the good < = ground was much slower than thatdf t|,e seed which feU on the stony, let me thereforeV i^ hope. Loured m the mom4,g to the people fi^m Rom. ili which led me to noble and dweU .much on the im': . portant d^trm* of justification, and I hope iot Without fiflTonf T> i.ji .. ., < *r ""•* evening from without effect. Preached in the', „„„ng irom ■ ^V'X ■T.f''''^"'^ '^ "'^ outpouripg of the Spirit a„d the eifects that should folloyf I lelt much impressed myself, and so did my hlaren, ^em to do toa. The Lord grant preadieTl and hearers a fulfilmenfof the promise. ' " Wedneaday. May 1 8.— This day the people Vrere emp o,ed in the hi., or „ther in 4 ^.tl^ attends: But before setting out, they readil^Hr the morning service. I read td.th«U in cou^rT^ e.plamed some parte of Rom. iv., caUingtheir atten- ■on particularly to three important pointe relative -^to just,fi«ition. 1. That God justifies the ungodly. 2. That the ungody are justified by faith f and 3. That It ,s of fi,ith, that it might be, by U» ■I'hree , points ttee/said the Qa,^ ■ '^ ^ ^^^ i-t:' "■'" I 11 V Mr i. ' ». found ■^ ope6 i A ■ V Oh; ! - It i. tances •= may J pro- l^- good V' \ 't'hich hope. 1: 1. 111., =-■'¥. i im^ 1 not from " g of ; I irers aiid .' lieere V cing S5=a«« :=■- and 3=«.™ ten- iive aiy. ■_ ^ _.j._.- md ice. THE SCRIPTURES SEARCHKD.^ 143 upon coming out of the room, 'which the people needed. mucji to have explained i6 them, and im- pressed upon their hearts. 'Is fearrd sinn sud rau'n-d'theid sinn do'ri chreig.' 'I heard some ot the people say among themselves, 'cha neil fhios againn ciod an g^bhadh tha romhain mu'n d' thig an oidhche/ Literally, 'We are the better of what we heard before going to the rock, we know not what danger awaits u»v before night.' They returned in time, however, for the evening sermon, and I preached to them from Matt. ?i. 28, on our Saviour's invitation to the labouring and heavy laden. " ThuTfidmJ, May 19.— Read to the people this morning Rom. v., and made some general observations o» the chapter. As I was going along and quoting some btber parts pf Scripture, I observed several of the peopte mark the places in their Bibles as if with a vfcw to examine them after going home. I was pleased to see 'this evidence of their attention to the Scriptures, ^nd at the same time it convinced me of tlie great importance of directing their attention as much as possible to the sacred oracles. ^In conse- quence of the Gaelic school established in the island, several of the young can read the i^ew Testament iind some portioYis of the Old. Some also of those more advanced in life can read a little, and this is a great benefit to them in, hearing public instruction. In the evening preached from Matt xi. 28, (a con- tinuation of li^nTghTs Hiscoiirse). ' i. ^i ',; :i +a •^" -A 144 ST. KILDA. •During the day I had an opportunity of con- vetsmg with several of the people respecting ^heir spiiitual concerns, and found them much more intelli- gedt and better informed than wlien I was formerly am^ng them. The answers they gave to sWeral ^^ ^quentions which I put to them regarding man'^ guilt and depravity, and the method of acceptance with God were, upon the whole, scriptural and correct whereas on my first visit, there was not one of them' thati seemed at all to understand it. Among others I mk with some of those who appeared to have been lyid^ serious impressions at the time I wad formerly op the island. These impressions I fear have sub- sided in a great measure, but not quite died away. The want of regular gospel ministry is a sad loss in this respect I trust, however, if their feelings are not what they were, that their knowledge is much improved. And the hght which they have acquired may account in some measure for the calmness and composure of their feeling^- at least, it is calculated to remove what is excessive in these and to give them proper direction. I was particularly pleased however, with the state of the old man's mind, to whom I referred in my former journal. He >^els that he is by nature a tost sinner. He has no trust ^ but in the RedeettiH ^ His Kfe is correct, all his views as to the g^^spel are pretty clear. He lost his eyesight since ^.^s here before, and upon my ad- verting to this and saying, it ^re well for him if .«»! ^ / \ INSTANT IN 48EASON, OUT OP SEASON. ' A 145 • . . / , - • tlie eyes of his mind were opened, ' I trust tt^y are/ says he. 'And what do yoii see?* said I. 'That 1| am blind/ says he, 'I see that in myself I am a ruined pinner, but thai Christ is an almighty Lvioifrl' 'But what if he is not willing?' said I. 'iUini^,' says he, 'would he die for sinner* if he fas n(^t willing to save them? No, no.' . He listens tb the word with great earnestness, and seems often felted under it. I had much pleasure also in con- yVersing with the children. They listened with uncom- mon attention to whatever I spq^e to them, and their tender hearts seemed at times to yield to the truth. - The Lord gather these lambs with his arms and cany them in his bosom. "Friday, May 20.— Tlie people, especially the njales, were employed this day in tlie rocks al the sheep-fleecing; but readily attended the tnoming Jecture before setting out. I read to them in course ^Bom. vi,, and pointed out the account which it gives of thereat doctrine_of sanctification, the nature,, fruits, and importance ot this doctrine, and its in- separable connection with justification. In the evening I had scai-cely any/but the females for my hearers, the men not having got i^pajesHFtiinB from the foeks. ^ I addressed £hem and the children from Isa. Iv. 1, and I trust that notwithstanding the smallness of our numbers. He who has said, 'Where t^o or three are gathered together in my name, there am J m the midsToTihem,' was with^usT^ nos) 10 ^ f-.-' *n iP"^^ 146 ST. KILDA. i I ■•: If ill i I .'15 ; "Saturday,May2h—Jninakings,omeohsoryai\om ^ tins morning on Rom. vil, the hearers appeared not-- to understand me, and I confess I seemed to myself to have forgotten that I was addre.ssing not stroncr men but babes. T immediately checked myself and endeavoured to bring my subject down to the level of their capacities, when they listened with uncommon attention. The Lord enable me to speak at all times to my hearers so as to be understood, arid not so much to aim at giving fully what I know, as giving Avhat may be intelligible a^ profitable to them " The people during the day were^mployed in delivenng barley and other articles of produce to the tacksman.. Although the feathers chiefly pay the rents, the tacksman, nevertheless, recefles off their hands any surplus of produce they may have beyond what theyneedforthemselves,and gives them in return such articles of husbandry, &c., as they may require. V Ihis afternoon they had a consultation together (for they do nothing of importance without holding a ' gefaeral meeting), and agreed to make me a present of a good fat wedder. uncommonly so, considering the season of the yean Althoygh I stood in no need of w anything m this way, thanks to the liberality of mv good friend the tacksman, I could not refuse accept ing the present as a testimony of their good will, and (may I not hope) a fruit of the gospel. I am more mchned to view it in this light, as nothing of the kind was hitherto known in 8t, Kildn. Thin thtitfuio '0- '^ "-..A, itv SIN REBUKEt) AND CONFESSED. 147 made the present doubly valuable. I should not omit mentioning, that every day, as soon as the females arrived from the hill, Hve are supplied with abundahee of waiA milk, an instance of their gener- osity never hithert/o experienced by me of' any other. It is pleasing tol/ear these poor creatures talk among themselves at the! time they are coming forward witli their little preefents. * He gives us the great good^ .j (Math m6r) ythd why should we not give him the little (good), little indeed, in comparison with what ' we receive.* " ^ . ' "I preached in the evening from Matt. xi. 28, (conclusion of Thursday's discourse). After finishing ttie sermon I addressed some hint»-to them regarding ^ . ' tli\9 due observance of the Sabbath, and pointed out to them from Scripture how that day ought to be kept, and the great evil of indulging in carnal and worldly c(mversation, and certain practices connected with the business of the week, particularly baking their bread and cany ing their potatoes or other vegetables ^ ftom the field on that day; I had no sooner finishe«i ; than several of the heads of famUies came up to me, and with tears in their eyes, pleaded guilty. * We cannot deny,* said they, 'that we were given tp these habits, but we have never seen the evil of them, and 0ie told us so till now. With God's help we ard ^resolved to avoid them in future.' I own I was • much pleased at the candour and honesty of thftsa _ poor people, and particularly so, that it evinced "a i ■M: 1 1 '% -tr- .^. i *' >. 148 ST. KILDA. degree of openness to conviction ^nd.a readiness o{ mind to subtait to the truth seldom to be met with On/;oming out of the barn, one of the men, adverting to my remarks regarding tlie conversation proper for the Sabbath, observed, /You have been forbiddincr us to speak of worWly things and recommending us to talk less about the world and more about spiritual Httbjects, but what will you say to those who have nothing but worldly malters to speak of, who cannot read, and who have no ideas relative to spiritual things.' While I told them that they should listen to others who could read and speak on these things and pray that they might be led to know them, I felt much the force of the remark they h^d made. The case was truly affecting, and spoke aloud the importance of storing the mind with useful know- ledge, and so furnishing it with suitable ideas, if we would have people duly to observe the Lord's day in this manner. » ''Monday May 23.-^Yeflterday during the day. after reading and making some observations on Matt, xxvi., relative to the Redeemer's sufferings T preached from Zech. xiii. 7, and i^ the evening by way of following up the subject of the day, from John xix. 30, ' It is finished.' The people heard with great interest and deep concern; many were in tears— and not a feW among the children, Christ crucified is the power of God unto salvation. I was to iHiCr'Dttttv tho ^ svening's exhorta- Aafc' " \"*'" ". ■psfe^'. THE FREE OEFEE^ tion regarding the observance of the Sabbath had a good effjpct Thtffc day was more strictly observed than any I had hitherto spent in the island. No levity, no giddy conversation, no disposition to meet in parties during the intervals of public worship; every one retired to his house and seemed to court / seci:esy ; indeedj^'several of them seemed to spend much of the time in private devotion, and in short, T observed that a more than ordinary degree of solemnitv and sacred .decorum marked their conduct during the whole day. I learned besides, that im- mediately after going home from sermon on Saturday 3 y night, the women instantly s^t about baking the Sabbath-dp,y's bread that no unnecessary work might- b6 left for that day. This wais like being 'doers of the word and riot hearers only.' . ^ " We met this morning jit the usual hpur. I read and lectured on Rom. viii. 1—18, a precious portion . of Scripture, and I truist the season was comfortable, at least it was a sweet one to me. In the evening I preached from John vi. 32, * My Father giveth yo*i the true bread,* &c. ; from which I endeavoured to represent 'that free exhibition of Christ in the Gospel to sinners, and the warrant thereby afforded them for accepting of him, a doctrine which seemed some- how to strike them with astonishment, and in which ' there seemed to be something new to ' them. For the sinner naturally riveted to a covenant of works that tbe ^wOTTi -eve r eoiK? etv€g^ ,**"■-- V , .0- Vh': < • 'i I . nun m ':::! I J I f ! %. ,r> ST. KILDA. «ust. be found i„ |.i„,«elf and not in the oosnel H«.ce1.e labour with all his n,ight, when he'tE any concern about the matter, to p.^pa,^ himself 2 he « pleased to paU it, tor Christ, and eveTL^ afterconv^tionsof sin notsomuch topr„rptlt t" flee to Chr«t as a ruined creature, as to afford him some reason to hope that Christ will more read Iv -cewe nm, „„d that he is more entitled tot 7^: It" :l.''^'""l °'" --Sht such convlcUo 1 . jeet with this legal disposition in St Kilda a, well as elsewhere. The Lord" grant, howev tha we who preach the gospel may not b^ the mean' of ^bverting it by clogging its free calls with conZ:! lo be per^^rmed on. the part of the sinner, which str^ , . he gospel of the glory of its g^ce, and involve te distressed soul in a labyrinth of perplexity. Tuesdat,. ^<«?r24.-This morning, after public service, » number of the males set offfor L neighZ, ■ng Island of Boremy i„ seareh of eg^ and bnZ ," .ome upwards of eight hundred,'^, d^ 'Cf they should be engaged at the sheep fleecin. It i" remarkable that the execution they do in "this W uirds. On the contrary, notwithstanding what thev jear («,d the.quantity is immense), they assure me that their number, increase ™ther than dim.nisT , The eggs of these birds, p„rf„V„|„rly nf thi. Z.i .' . ' • . A • -, ■- - .--■-. u ^ - .LJ :._i5i.__.^_, ^ \ X THE SOVEHEIGNTY OF GRACE; 151 . . r geese, resembling much those of our common country geese, eat well, but those of a small black bird, icalled by the natives «|be buig^r (the Greenland parrot, I believe), resembling much in size and taste our hen eggs, relish most of any I have eaten on the island, "I lectured in the morning from Romj viii., verse 20 to the end, and preached from verses 33rd and 34th of the same chapter in the evening. The people seemed to follow me every step while dis- cussing the important clauses of this passage, and indeed their understandings seem to be opening more and more to the truth. *' Thvrsday, May 26. — Yesterday morning I read in course and made observations on Rom. ix. Al- though this chapter presents rather strong meat than milk for such babes as were before me, yet I did not think it safe to conceal from my hearers the important subject of which it treats. The sovereignty of God in the method of grace lies at the very foun- dation of the Gospel, and is a doctrine much calculated to humble the proud sinner in the dust. ' Oh, I delight (says one somewhere) in the idea of bowing to the divine sovereignty.* I spent a considerable part of the day in reading Matthew ' Henfy's life. What a hply man ! "What an assiduous servant of Christ ! What an exemplary Christian character, in the closet, in the family, in the Church, and in society ! In the evening I preached from Rom. viii. 88, 84 (jrcon^Tiatiou of Tuesday^ aubjeuij. ii n M}!^ ^ X 1: I t • : ) id2 . ST. KILDA. ■ hbi'foj ":"■'"««'« Peop'* assembled at a„ early , , l.took a walk about mid^dav fn „.. *u- ' ^ "^®®P- ■ . there 13 if ' 'f J^^''^''-'^ rock, anda«, it« fleecy ™I7.,! ? "" " «°' "'•'"'<' ^t"??**" "f into heS^ t, r *: '"'"'■ »"™*' *'" ''"""""g that few accidents of this ki„d hLZ 1 7'' chm^home quite dis'posed fm.W^ The people • '~""'''»'"'—™-«-ir-r-i I .. •V /^, ■%k n.'4lB« ^ .. n\ early , ^ id gave ereafter * sheep/ sratioiij < • * - ' i. an, and - % M' •ecipice \ \ nd aite tteir ped of *" idlong '•' ." vever, • ' | )€opIe • • * n the , •H ^'^^, ' AH . ^ idling j ^' « fchem / ■ \ k aeh'e /' I \ ,* rved •■■'■■ t - ■ hem . U 1 out 'i**'!, i ■ this 1 , ; * » Xll., ■ the."^ ■ ' -■ r the ' ' '■ -153 Thrs I deemed HABlTS'OF f hW PEOPtE. and lead to holiness in heart and life, necessary, as from the high ground I had* occupied for .Some days past, I was afraid the people jnighfc veer towards Antinomianism (a;i extreme as dangferous if Hot more so than Arnfinianism), for I find that the}*- ^ could be led into any systeib; such is the, confidence they put in their spiritual instructor. Woe is unto me, then,, if I lead themnot aright ! During £he day the people wer^ busied in thatching theil'^ houses. " For the winter half year their huts have generally two coats of thatch ; bu^abdut this seasoh of the year they remove tlr^ lower, by this 'time sufficiently smoked and soot;^, for fclie benefit of their fields, and lay the 6ther in its place. In Oc^ber again they lay a neW covel- of thatch over th^ oH and. in May ;lhereafter,i;emove t^e- old as fdrm^ly, thus repeating the operation every year. Hence perhaps the reason of theircohfining the smoke yrithin their houses; and scarcely giVing it any outlet, « circiimstande which must otherwise prove.,injuri6us to health, but out of the impro|)riety of which it would not be e(isy to reafion them. Little prizes and reward? might have the effect, and . indeed muqh mighii be effected by measures of this kind tovjjwds^eir improvement in many of their hajtnts.'* , * ' /-i * "ThQ ta^ijsman told me this afternoon that lie ^ had now finished hisr business in the island, and was ready to set off with the first fair wind, but that he ' would remain some days longer if l wished for it. "#.' i4' ' ' ' ' ' lit ' , IJ I " (It I \ ;:;.:i.. ."I m . ' **■ ij J54 RT.,KILDA. .<^ / / l^M him warmly, but told him that wl,eiu^ver th« wmd permitted I should not dpf.; t- '^'\''^'' ^Ve t^erefo. left «,e UrCl It "wthL^ Winds and weather in w t. , ^ *"® . thae when H tl«2 iTtsT'^u'T ""*" island, and tad no I^ wo* Lt f i"? "'" DresPtif TT^ „ ij ^'^ '"^ ^o ^o for the present, He would grant such weather as we needed Pictu- Of sadnL in «,ei:'::2„a„ci"°r r^ even,nglp.eaohedo„ th. new bire^J^ ^ f iirienll'T'' T' " if -™«y- desirous t, « "Saiurday, May 28.— liis Jay Mr M'LpII»„ a I^mined the school he.. esU Jh^ by S:oi!w forjhe support .f Gaelic Schoola The« w epS m all nftv-seven ffuVf,, c ■, present appearance they made was wonderf7 Tr * ^ ' • i : ■ \ ^ A ■ e. THE SCHOOL. 155 musical turn, tliey seem to be very fond. In short, yoUng and old acquitted themselves beyond my ex- pectations. After this part of the business was over they, gave us a specimen of their singing. Coleshill, -i^angor, Scarborough, St. George's, &c., were «un" ■■■... mi m '.r I- I! ! t l.r-H 158 , ' ST. KILDA. ' • -Si.- ■ , * .»> . ■ •, • ■ women biirst out a crying, aiifl all were in tears, as ^ if anticipating from the very nature of the subject that it would be my last ;^and indeed I had some idea myself that this would be the casei ^specially as the wind was: veering round and becoming more • favourable for us. During a considerable part of the discourse I felt much affected, so much so that I could. at times scarcely give utterance to my senti- ments, and the sobbings and crying of the people interrupted me not a little. "Wednesihy, June}.-— This mormng I r€^d and made some remarks on Eph. v.^ which I anticipate i^rill be the last exeixjise of the kind I shall Lave with ^ this poor people. The Avind is quite fair for us, and we are preparing to Set off as early as possible in the Jifternoon. The poor people are sad indeed. It is V painful for me to meet them here and there. The Lord be with them and. bless to them what they have , "V . heard. - ' - ,■.:.,•. °-, : ■ "Scalpa, Han^, Friday, June 3.— On We^nes- day evening at eight o'clock we left St. Kilda, the wind quite fair, and continued so for nearly two ^ hours, but during the whole night we were quitp^ becalmed. About sunrise, however, a fine breeze; sprung up from the S.W., and we got to Caolis in North Uist by ten o'clock, .where we were most . kindly and hospitably entertained. , " A little before leaving St Kilda the people gjtthered^ around me and begged for prayers ere we A SAD PAKTINO. ifid should part. We stepped immediately into^ie barn. I read and sang Ps. cxxi., and then prayed with them for the last time. The scene was "peculiarly affeicting. They then accompanied us to the shore, and amidst tea^ and cries I shook hands with them. ' commending them to the Lord and to the word of his grace,' and praying * that he might build them up and give' themr ah inheritance among them that are sanctified.' « As formerly, they ascended the brow of a hill hanging over the shore, an'd sat looking at u^ till sable night had concealed us from their view. I felt sorrowful indeed at parting with them, and could not but; think of them very often since. I could compare my feelings at the time only to those of a father separating from his fatnily. But it was consoling to me to think that they were under His care 'who neither slumbers nor sleeps.'" , i M W^ i ^ !) f! I CHAPTER IX. ■ '' \ VISITS IBELAND-^RKVISITS ST. KIIDaT 1827 Mr. Baly,|hen rector of PoWrSr court, now Bishop of Cashel, anxious that the gosp^ sliould be preached in their native tongue to .the Irish-speaking population around him. wiote to Di^^Dewaiv then minister in Glasgow, requesting him to procure the services of a Gaelic evangelist. He at once' applied to Mr. Macdonald. When Dr. Dewar's letter reached him, he was preparing to start for St. Kilda. He^ould not abandon his intention of again visiting his deso- late flock in St. Kilda, and he was almost a^unwil- ling to refuse the call jtrom Ireland. To visit both the Grey Isle and the Green wo^ld require his absence from his own charge for at^least five months. He therefore thus replies to Div Dewar's letter :—r ***''*-■ " (Trqcrart JFa^sb, 26th March, 1827, ; " My Bear. Sir,— I was duly favoured wife your interesting letter regarding Ireland. • After weighing the ""^--^ - - & h -SU tj j^ct^ .OS fir and over again iw'wy mind, I fefef ^ "^ tETTER ANENT IRELAND. 101 rr^ucli at a loss what to write in reply: * I admit that the^§§e is urgent, and that the call from Ireland is, 'Come over and help us.' But I see difficulties in fe^^^ ^^ *"^ *^**®™P^^"° *^^® expedition, which it '"^^ jecessary here to state, but} which discourage ^holding out the prospect at present of my to.decomplish so 4esirabl#an object, if howevei", ias said that ^hall go to Ire- to Ireland I must go. In that event, he will raakp darkno^ light and crooked paths straight be- fore me. At preseint I cannot Venture to give a decisive answer on the subjeci I am setting out on another tnp tQ St. Kilda, and hope (D.F.)' to be' back about the end of April. If you can ^et the inatter remain as it stands till then, I shall, as soon as possible after my return, make up my mind, and giV6 you a definitive answer. - " It is trolly g e n CT ous in Mr. Daly^^o propose de- fraying the expeiflp^f the itinerancy! ' "I have only to add, that whether I can visit Ireland at this time or not, I hope I shall carry Ire- land in my spirit whithersoever I go, and remember her before the throne of grace. It shall, I* trust, b? ray prayer to God; that he may maintain what he jias wrought ii^ her; ^less the ' day of small things' to her; and grant that the dawn which seems now . to visit her may be the pi-elude of a glorious day, which shall bless every corner of tKli benighted and if/ ^.<, (103) btr-rwgfected isle wi t h life, lig bt> ~libertyran?r ■•« t-, , n . 'i; t 4i * ii ^; ^' 1 1, i ^ 'J ■ , f ,1 , ' : ! 1 :'I 'J V\ M ^-/ 'X 'W '^ 162 IRELAND. joy! — ^T am, my dear Sir, most sincerely and faitli- fully yours, / " John Macdonald." ^!V i Having visited St. Kilda, and reached his home again in safety, he found letters, urging him to visit Ireland, awaiting him. Power to refuse such a cal formed no portion of hiac^trength ; and as Mr. Th^y indicated August as the most suitable month ia^ the* > work in Ireland, and as thi^ would give /Kijn an opportunity of completing his summer wopk in Scot- -. land, it was all the easier for hin» to ^nsent. At the appointed time he started for Ireland, r^ched § .Dublin early in August, and at otice began to pre- '' pare for his work by acquirinff4he language. His' first tour Vas to the south/extending to Bandon. His laboufs there he thus describes in letters to Mi"ju Macdonald: — X . "I arrived in Dd^n on Thursday, and went to visit Mr. 'Daly next day, 'whom I found to be the Christian indeed — the iiumble, affectionate, zealous, and liberal-iplnded Christian. I have since spent my time m' reading Irish. ' I reached Kilkenny on the ]7tl>^ distant from DuMin fifty-seven miles; and I feel quite at home in the house of Mr. Rae, an Episcopal clergyman, a most excellent Chri^thm man, ^ wliose wife is of a kindred spirit. Here, and as I proceed southwards, l^hall m<^t with some of the native Irish, whom I n^ust attempt to address. The . :'%' :% -^w^' ;%r ■•^i;' / y / HIS Work in Ireland. 163 4k^ ; i;^ulfc j'ou shall hear in. my next Id;te#^% foresee ^•I'tciiffi^ultiea in the way, owing io the difft[jfence of our dialects, and to my being obliged to stiidy the old Iri^^v-«haracters, in orftr to be able to read the Scriptures to the people in the only form in whicli they will allow them to be read to them. A gi-euter difficulty arises from the influence of the priests over the lower classes. But above all is the difficulty arising from the power of the prince of darkness, who holds priests and people as his, slaves, and leads them captive at his wiH. But the Lord, I trust, will make darkness light and rough places plain. •' Tiiis town of Kilkenny, famed for its fire with- out smoke, its water without tiaud, and its streets all of marble, contains a population of 24,000, of whom the Roman Gatholics are to the Protestants in the proportion of twenty-four to one. Mr. Rae and Mr. Shaw, both excellent and zealous men, are the rectors, and I trust their labours are not in vain." " Bandon, 3cZ September. — After remaining at Kilkenny for four days, during which I met with few individuals who could speak Irish, I proceeded to this place, which is in the heart of an Irisji country, as the people call it; tneaning thereby a country where the Irish is chiefly spoken. On my way I stopped for a day at Glonmell, and for two days at Cork. The former is about tlie size of Elgin, and the loiter contains a population of 1 30,000. Cork isjntensely Popisii ; bttt even in that Sard is thfira ato a few who •^ i k '■ lit ,'( ^U ' (■ [i;^r 1 il. I -H jv-- I. t \ ■ * -*«*» — — — i-^ — 1 . -J .I** "J .IRELAND. • ■ blieir sfarineuts. I met there Dr. » 164 Macquarry of the Established Church, and several others, who are decidedly on the Lord's side. In neitlier of these places was I able to do much, beyond i^'eading: and conversing with some Irish teachers. At firsjTit required a,ll the attention in listening, and all tTip delibera^on in speaking, of which we were drtpable, to, catch each other's meaning. The lan- guage we found to be evidently the same, but the accent and- pronunciation very different The dia- lect s|ioken here— that is, in the southern districts — is far more difficult to understand than that spoken in the norths, the latter approaching very near to our Scotch/ 'Gaelic. On th^^j^count I conceived, and I stated 6q\ to my friend Mr. Daly, that it would be moi'e to the pur{)osetO' send me to those districts Wliere my Qaelic WQuld be best understood. His ' , ^ , 'S^t'answet was, * Jnthe north there ha^ been something ' ' * •/" already done, but the south has not yet been touched.' . ^y"^ /■ I acquiescea, of course,, in his opinion. * .. jKVr ." I arrived in this place about twelve days ngo, and haye flince resided with Mr. Newman, one of the clergymen of the town, Mr. Daly's brother-in-law. He and ' hm \fife are truly devoted to the cause of Christ. .The population of Bandon is 12,000, two-* thirds of whom are Papists. In regard to any poor labours of ihinfe, I can say But little. After spend- llUg .a feWdays in conversing with some of the native B ini theif riwh ' language, and-xeading pnrtinn H f ^ !kU 'ti 1 1 11 1 1. «fi ■ .t * '1 •l! / ..-' y-**- FRUITS OF UlS LABOURS. ICd of the Irish New Tesfcamept, I commenced preaching to them on Thursday last, and have since bepn r^ lifting the exercise almost every day.' I have preached at least five times — thrice in a laige school- house in the^town, capable of containing about eight hundred people, and twice jn a village distant about three miles from Sandon.'* As he became more unfettered in the use of the ^rjfeh dialect, he began to preach with somewhat of his wonted power and fervour, and the spell of his elo<^fence began to touch the Irish heart. Many Romarftlatholics were drawn out to hear him under the shad^ of nightv Nicodemus-like, they would steal i«(Ko the place of melting. The truth was reaching th^ conscience of some of them, and" not a few began to ask, " What must we do to, be saved r* After service one night in Bandon, " three Rojiri|pra Catholic young women," Mr. Macdonald w^|^' " stoo^ near tb^ffioor as I* was going out, apparently affected, ipnd as if anxious* to speak to me. * Have you been hearing «fermon this* evening?' I asked. 'Yes, sir.' "^And how do you feel?' * Not weft, sir.' • Why?' 'Because your pi-eaching and that of the priest differ.' 'How so?' 'Why, the priest tells us we must do penance, and say our Paters and Ave Marias often ; but you tell us that we must come to Christ as we are, and that he has done all for ps.' • That is what the Bible tells us,' I said. ' Do you •^ I } I ' kit i f ifl % . .1 ¥■' • •>- ' 1 ' i ■ i ■ ■ ,♦■ N' ■ ./ ■'■• ;i'^ TT ¥' 160 IRELAND. It y I i^ifl- ^The priest wijnt allow us.' * Can you reatl it?V^ ♦ Yes, a little ; anct we could readmit bettet-, but that the priest took us ^waj' from scho^/ ^* Why would you leave the schobl for hin^r 'Dh, sir, we must obey the priest; else what will becoitie of us at last, when we'need extrepe unction?* * Don't you think,' I ask^d,-.*thai Christ is greater thak the priest?' ♦ Oh yes, sir,' they ^t once replied. * Oiight yoti iiot, v then, to obey Him?' I said. 'Yes,' sir;\but do we not obey Him when we obey the prieat?' *Only when the priest speaks according to the Bible.- Are you sure tji|it he does so ?' 'We are- not, sir,' they answered J 'and if what you said td-night is true, he does not.' ' I spoke and read from the Bible.' * And you spoke, sir, to our hearts. Oh, what shall we do !' they cried. ' Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved.' They then sobbed and cried, so that I could not be heard by them. After they had calmed a little, I, shook hands witli them, telling them I would pray for them ; beseech- . ing them to remembep that should I never see them 'again in this world, they and their. priest and I ' should meet together before the judgment-seat of Christ ; and assuring them that if they were then Ipst,^ their priest could do nothing for them, and that I would be a swift witness against them. Thus we parted,' mutually affected. May the Lotd bless the interview to their souls 1" 'P'l^': Wrom Banddn he started on two evangelistic tours ^. .f ' :■■, - - :^ ' M '^: ■■««• ■X /•k ^ PRELA.CHING IN IRISH. 167 along tlie southern ' coast, of which he writes the fuUowing account: — # ;' During the ^Jirst of tjiem I travelled each day from ten to twenty Irish miles, and preached in Mi^ e^fenijig in a town or_: village,^ and sometimes in country places where there were only a few scattered farm-houses and miserable huts. The people in idl the^ places assembled uncommonly well, and dis- covered an eagerness to hear the Word. I preached to them in l)oth~ languages, and generally the same . discourse, in order that such Of my hearers, as had a smattering of English, might better understantl my Gaelia I find that by this means the people • take . up nay ideas pretty correctly. But you must know that I speak neither Gaelic nor Irish, but a^ mixed diWect in ordei* to apprpach their own— 4the worst in all Ireland-r-aud make myself as iit1;elligible to them as possible. In , y^is I have succeeded beyond my anticipations. Mme of my hearers tell iwli^'^Sir, your Gaelic is different from oura, but yet we un(|^rstand it pretty weH;' soi&e say, 'the most' of it;' ^$f?i*s say, 'every seiitence.' 4 During this ' tuur I had conversadM^^ "with* not a f e w Boman Catholics, rega|^ding tW Scrl ptures^apB|ph e go^l^ method of salvation; and I could .perceive wiatjbliJp faith in theiV own systei^i is tottering, 'ana tK^Obeir ' l^t4X>nfGiences tell them that matters are not right.* But,' alas ! they' are ignorant of tjie Script\u*e8, '^ind X tf*y k: !■■ : n\ 4 d ore not allowed by their priests to rt^ad or to Imw -# ■ypnrnmvu i mii l m ..! liVa . 1 W ^ ■ iik^*^^ ^^ tf^/and could ^^wm) over ' ito coj*nerS; its in vrh i^wt"lioir\0^ff, e^-' come, they . ^ OJ^e^^arts of the i^: B^, church, schoolhouse, ' storeroom,, risf^|t may happen to he. My preafching!durii||^ this tour has had^ the effect,, luld'perceive, of 0rel^ng much speculation amon^\ people, ana of le^i^ them to think, a,nd to:^ : togethei- of^ th^ W^s which they have heard?^^ J is reckoned a g^odlfiigti. I jcould in a few .♦^ instances discover some iSlividuals affected even to Be Bantry, a town situated] op a line bay, fit to con tain ^11 the navies of^ljl^rope, the scenery^ around i? which is almost the finest in all Ireland This trip I greatly enjoyed. .We met in every place, clergy- men of the Established Ghurch wiVpw.ere decidedly ^ evi^gelical, and zealoid[M promoting the Lord'sr/''* Ipy meetings n> every and I spdke, and chiefly ;riptures'to|the ndflvcs in ^ae evenings, sermons Were work. , We ^ad Bibl^ pla«e, at which Mi in support of givii their o^ language p r e a ehe'd in E ii gli s# ?lic wtiichiwere remark- \ ^^/'.l: . '■ L i'' ■.„..'■ i 1 ■ 1'; • ;• 1 ^. r'-r'iiVr n }'r ■A .'4; .f ;. . ../^ ' .if A- If)!, ■i, ■■/' , THE PRIEST Si AGJgNT.': 16J) ably well attended. XChurcliW capable of containing from fifteen hund^d to two fhousand were crowded, and chiefly by Roman Catholics. I am convinclp.d that the Lord was present on various occasions, and that the Word has not ^ been without effect We returned from this excursion fatigued by our laboui-s but comforted in our minds and desirous to give glory to Qod for what had been done. It was particularly consoling to us,.^at so many hundreds of Papists attended in every place. To get them to hear the Word at all from the temith of a Protestant is a mighty object gained; and particularly so here, a part of Ireland,. which in the language of Mr. Daly ' has not been touched.' " < It was an evidence of his labours not being in 'Vain, that the priests became alarmed. Itundreds of their people crowded the churches when the heretic from Scotland preached | and they felt it was high, time to make an effort to do away with any' impression ^hich he might have produced. They employed an agent, with a smart 4rish tongue, to the congregation after a sermon which Mr. lid preached in the neighbourhood of Bandon. ftef fflaishing' service," he writes, "a smart look- ing ^,11 vo^gVail a^ou^ ti^enty-five yearia of age, and apparently ab»ye'**thfe <»immon rank, stood up before the coi^regfttion had ^retired, and begged ^to be h^arlf fer a ^ minutes. J feavc bim full per- i. I i ) fr mission, atid^^ 'con^^ation again sat down. lie '- t*a# v.; '.•\',ivV,jri|, ,'NL- /,;, « f ■ '>', ■■"Vv'"V:'»:--x^V:*.vv\ ~. \ ■* -4 • ] il i "*r'^'^■*!!f ! ;4 M iJI I iX ti. 1 u If.? ■hi TT-nr- 'n>r M^'-^smr J If 174 rKEApniNO IN UISJ. 1 ^. and iritend^fcd^eootinue to do so while I remain in this place. The ^people— Catholics as well aL Pro- testants — assemble in crowda Each class teems most eager to hear the word, and to Jisteri to i^with the deepest attention. "' *' Yesterday, two young females, who among others had attracted my attention, as' seemingly in .deep distress, and indeed in tears during the whole service, have been Md were of the Roman Catholic per- suasidn^^The Lord bless the word to these benighted, and misguide^^oplej^ Why should we not love the souls of Catholics as well as Protestants, and do them all the good j^e <5an ? Alas, that% often we should treat them a^ if they were a people of a different species from ourselves ! "Yesterday, too, a circumstance occurred during the time of divine service, which struck -m^ forcibly as ex- pressive of the poor people's anxiety and ardent thirst to hear tWe.word. Just as I was finishing the service, and aboWt to dismiss the congregation, a new set of people a/rived with a view to hear sermon — no fewer, I s«)5pos(e, than from fifty to sixty in number, who, it would Appear, had come from a distance, or had not got timeous notice. On my expressing a deep regret on their account that the service was now over, and that, should I begin a new orte, I was afraid that the patience of my old hearere would be completely eichausted, up started one of these old hearers im- mediately, and addressing me, said, ' No, no, you will . / T Af w EFFECTS OP HIS rRBACHINO, not tire out our patience though you should continue till midnight. I know not who could tire of hearing such doctrines; and it is not every day we have ^ such ♦ an opportunity, &c. \ Therefore, sir, if it be agreeable to j^ui^e shall be glad that you 6pn- ^inue longer/ The people in general expressecj tlieir cordial .a^cjuiescencein^j^^ had thus uttered* Accordingly, I conimencea>, new ^rvic^, find had bot^ freedom and pleasure in ad^ressm|^ theni. I t^list ^the Word, too, had soiiie #ect; at least ^eyeral seemed to be deeply impressed under it, and wei^ in tears during the whole time. After dis-^ missing the congregation, and as I was passing along the crowd, I could hear one Say to his neighbour, * What wonderful doctrines are these Ve heard to- day !* Another (a Roman Catholic, 1 believe), ' Won- derful indeed! and when would our priest give us such doctrines ?' ' Indeed,' says a; third, ' his words pierced my own heart*— literally, 'made holes through my heart/ I retired immediately to m^ closet, and prayed that the Lord would give these poor people savingly to know that his word is quick and power- ful, a,nd sharper than any two-edged iSword, piercing ' evehjf^he dividing asunder of soul and spirit, &c '^dnesday, June 23. — The weather has for some days been uncommonly cold and stormy, and still continyes so; 4Jepc6 I am still detained here. The Lord overrule the detention for his glory and > c 1.1:. vl <*'^.! ) ■■ ^i mm ■t-f ■t ■- ,,-> 176 ^T. KILDA. the good of souls ! -On Sabbath last I preached 'in the forenoon at a place called Hallam (three inil^d to the south of this), for the accommodation of the V people who live about the soiiih point of Uist; and ''. .0 •' • • '~>k ' ■ ■ I H ' > 'iff ■ ■ »" .' V ' "' ' ■ Jl ' ' - .J to, *^ . j*^I^'^ ;» < ■«■■ • •V v« I 4 I < pfijf ' r """TT'ii^'^iWM '•rnnkmrn "^^ :0 ■i'-f ^/ 178 * A JQYrUL SUKWaSE. accompanied us on the trip, and whose society will be no small addition to our comfort These, together with myself formed the whole party; and by b^ P.M. we were all oil board. ' ' . , ., J J ' . "At s^ven we set sail, and the wind continuing fair and steady with us all the way, we^jSirrived in the bay here at four this morning, accomplishing the ^ f>assage, commpnlyreckoned'Bixty miles, jjrecisely in nine hours. • * ' , ■ : " ^ . " AtSuch an early hour it could not be expected ,- ^^ that the inhabitants had shaken off their midnight , sflumbers. All, accordingly, was stillness; not a smoke to be seen, nor the bark of % dog to be heard. What an easy prey in suoh a case were these poor people to the invaders ! The sight reminded nj^o^' the fearful condition of carnally secure sinners. How ' '\ efisy a prey are such to the enemy of souls, and how s' defenceless their state when death comes to rouse them from their fatal slumbers, and summon them to appeqj: befoite God ! Some individual, howevei*, jg ^ ^ who had been on foot, and espied us, gave the alarm to the rest; and in about half an hour all the spuls ' ''on the island were down at i^ie shore to meet and to receive us. The sea behig tolerably smooth at y^ the time, \t^e had no difficulty in landing. But scarcely had I got my foot on shore, when' all ■ crowded around ««ne, vieing \dth each other who V should be the first to get at myi^d, and give'iin ' hearty shake and squeeze; and as. lor the 'how d'ye * ^': "r-rr , *>(. ■■'"?* ^ W"^ -i^t'-A^-^ ;f» •■' , urn >/-f--:-w.h' •f r- . j. * -A Warm WELcojWB^, -'l-g V' doV an(i welcomes back again, and blessings on myself a^ the Society, who had been so mindful of their popr souls, &c., these' ^n'tj similar expressions were de^t out without , number. Indeed, a tjae^of - joy seemed at the time to overflow ouc l^earts,' aild '^.l^' . > occasionally to Impede >^tterance; Mr! Mackeniiei/JW- « who, wit|i his female friends, had been all this while - '^• standing a.t a little distance from us, ga^ln^ aind<^ ^ gazed at occasionally, was at last introduced' to them' as the minister appointed for them by the Society They again prayed for many benedictions on" the SocitJty, but flew immediately around the strangers ■ - and though he had been^^h^ir seven year^' acquaint ' tauc^ they could not have more warmly received ^hi^ 'We trqst,'^ <|,ey, 'the.I« has sent .y««/ T to us. Oh, rtay He ^less your labours among us ' ' , "^ with many other e^piiasions^o the same effect. On my mentioning to then^^ho.W'much they owed to*tUe - , Society fdr the ^priv«Jls noV conferred upon them. " • ' Yes, says one of theeh, *Mte owe much to God and* " ' to them und^rG.d: See you,>ys hf, ' these butid- ' ■ " ings, pointing tatfee ^urch and i^anse. ' who would . • have thought some years ag») that such should ever ' * .be seen in St Ki|^a? '^ The Society hav« provided --*V these for u^ and now have sent us a messenger— - we trust a minister of Jesus Christ:* The' Lord^jV \ reward tliem for their Christian la:bd*rs, whatever^.li Uecomfes of us; and indeed they'shairi^:nowisrfcs^ T "'^ ', --- r • ■ "I "^^^-^ "^' ^^'^"s them thus filly (d-r^^ - ■■''■. '-''-1 1 ; ^ I • ' ^' , • ^> !■' > #■ ... . ^^' '\ ^ /. . ..-1 \ ■ I?- '?'*-, • ]"• • ' • .1^'-'. ": '" ■'^■'■.\>'« '" -.'^lA ••'«■» ■■•'.' «' I I •» .*.-!■ 1 "4'.i ".r " ,!U''*'4.. I*".' ,' V"'*-'' ••■' - ^Z-'- Mi- ill " ' ,f J . 1 .»• ,, , . Ill Ifri" n. mmmtmm 180 THE NE\\r CHURCH. "proposed tl^fit we should immediately* asseirfble in ^ .church, and offer thanksgivings "to 'God for liil great ^**goodn^s towards us -©n this occ^ion. They all marched with me in a hody^ entered the new; place of worship, and seemed with heart apd lip to join in the ^efvice. Ijust read a chapter, sung a^ portion of a psalm, and concluded with prayer. Before dis- missing, I told them we should meet, for sermon at such an hotir in thfe afternoon as siiit'Cd their con- . venience. After the service was „pver, my fellow- taayellers and I stepped into the missiontiry's dWell- ing-liouse (or manse, as it may be called ip- St. Kilda), amd after talcing a look through the di|ferent apartments, of it, all which iappeared to be weH and subsil^tiaJly finished, we aat down to rest and refresh s aft^r the fatigues and footings of the. voyage. , 5'3B,ufc the feelings of detight vrliich ia,rose in my tinipid'jit seeing bi|ildings, th6 -erection of which, in ^T[t*^ilda no one would -evei^ have anticipated, a ^ew ^Tjl^-s ago, now completely executed with stone, lime, 4tid slate, and that in the most substantial and satisfactory manner ; a|0(||bcing a churclv^ — a house -built for the worship of God here— a .house in whicli there was reason to hope^His Gospel , would be preached and His ordinances administered for gfehera- tions to copae-^-a house, to wie erection of which on this lonely island not 9- ft?w of the inVabitantsr,' per- haps, from agp to age/ down to a remote posterity, sm t|a^;jli§; means, ufHl^r Q^ vhkh l^hseu '0: ;ff" It, ■■}, .y. '*' ,*- U :',';i J^- as '5 1 i< . IJ} It. / ■'■■.':' >* r " PROGRESS IN KXOWLEDGK. * * / Tjgj' Messed to their souls for saIvatioh--a house, in short " jn regard to which thei^-is reason t\> believe, thfi,t ^- 'when the Lord shall write up the people. He shall count that tWs man and that man were born there- ' . tha, feelings of my heaU I say, at the time, it was v beyond-my po^ to describe. ^ ' . .'^Friday, July ^. —Tins da/ t^ people- were ^employed with the young. man Mr. Bethune (Who - had come to actx-ibr the. tacksn^an) in delivering. ^ feathers, barley. &c.yj^«I five m i\^ afternoon, when they met for sermon j and' I addressed them from Pa. xxxV^. 4, 'Delight thyself also in the Lord ' ^c' - And if I was enablea^in any measure, to entei^' iito ' the spnit of tl^ese^^words, some of ' my hea'rers " - certamlyp seemed to go along ! >^ith ^e. ', There ' certt^inly appears to, be a,n improvement, m ' poir# of knowledge, with them: But there seems to be mbre * ' of the love „of the truth among them, and more openness of heart to receive it, than I had discovere^kr^ on former occasions. I speak geneitlly. There are many exceptions of course. But to a considerable part of them this ob^rvation will apply. The result hs thatrfind ifc easier .tQ speak to them, and that the truths addressed to them seem to sink ...sensibly and without apparent obstruction into their iiearts . . -■ ., ^ ^^;;^^f«y. «^^ f >-D«ring the gr^rter part ofj*^' . . . m day the people Vere empbyed as yi..terday. U' '/».>'' '" Vflk jPtat.^, ,^^;.igi ih 0^1;,^ othe/ V^ • ■ :^ '1 si# .' ;' -l 1^ ,1 1 1 ' . ■^il^it^.^m**^^^^ m THE NEW MINIST TETJ J-: r, f' INTRODUCED. articles of produce that the St, Kilda^ rents are paid At five P.M, they assembled for "sermon, when I preached to them from these words in 1 „Jo]in i. 7, .'The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth. ub fronA-. all-in.' And'ifjjhile addressing a few* things' to them^ regarding the blood of , Christ, some of them were affected to tears, andyfleemed to^jpelt under the •doctrine; The old blind^man, in particular,^ of whom I m^de mention i^^ my former joyrnp-ls, and who, I happy to learn, holdfe out steadfastly in'the Ways of the Lord, bolild not resist shedding tears, and tliat ; most, copiously, on the 'occasion. The people this ; *5day, as on former occasions, rha^e -me a present of a V'g'ood fat wedder, in atd of our provisions, which I. 1< accepted as a proof ol their gratitude apd good will. *^ Monday, July ^. — Ye.-sterday being the day on which Mr. Mackenzie was 'intrpduced to the peo[)le, J .and commenced Kis services among thenij was to me the most imJ)ortant and c^lightful day "I ever spent at St. Kilda. This day the people were employed, as on Friday and Saturday, with Mr* Bethune, till , about five in the afternoon, when they assembled for .' sermon, and I addressed them from Ps. Ixxxiv. 11, *Tlie Lord will give grace and glory.* No subjects touch them like those of grace. They seem to melt , -^ under such topics. What an argument to ministers for holding out the doctrines of ^race continually to tlie view of their hearers ! iris such doctrines alone l^l^JV^lcale^l^iM tK)jv:j#i|g heart gf the sinner^ aijd /' J i . • , 4 ST. KILDA MAUKIAGE. - y 183 ilv such doctrines alone will God append the seal ;ihd sanction of his power. • I was pleased to observe some young people apparently impressed, and deeply A under the discourse:^ Indeed,. I was gla^ to learn tliafc peveral among this class are in a hopeful way. There are' bloss/)raa at least. The Lord grant that the ripe 'fruit m«^ yet be seen ! • '^Tueadxiy, Juiy. Q.—^A littk before five o'clock, • when we fesembled for sermoij a young couple came' 'before me to be manied; anrf after being joined, I " Was pleased to find that they,.and their ftiends who . were along with them, proceeded immediately to the church, and took their seats with the congrega- tion; -and on my remarking t6 them ttfterwards how highly I approved of their conduct in this, ' Certainly,' ^.replied the bridegroom, 'we should begin 'every tiling with God. .And what happiness can be ejcpected in the married state without Him?' I ^ke to the people from' Eph. v. 31, 33. And while I took ^_ occasion, frcMn tlie passage, to state the duties which ,• husbands and wi^es owe to eacA other, and which * are -enjoined on them by the Lord, I dwelt chiefly on the marriage relation established between Christ _ and the Church, dnd the duties and privileges which arise out of such a glorious relation. I trust the Lord has accompanied His word with a degree of v power; at least the countenance of the people I mdicated that the word had some effect upon them. ^^W^dnesday, July 7.— About five in the eveninr^ ^ 05 ? ■,?!;- ; ■ '-J r 'I . *i I ill ML' te^M'.-^Vt?. . f ' . " \\ 184 A STpBM IN ST. KILDl. I ' t i: 'Vi -i -JH.- I, % , .(• I assembled the people for sermon; and conceivliiw that possibly this might be t\\e last opportunity I should have of addressing them, J took for a subject of lecture, 1 Thess. v. 12-23; from which I en- deavoured to point out to them the y«^t of the various exhoi-tations addressed to Christians in this passage, and to enforce them on their consideration. Towards the close of it, the poor people began to be much affected, and to weep aloud. My own feelings were overcome. I felt it difficult to speak. Indeed, the idea of a separation was most painful alike to speaker and to hearers. ■ < "Thursday, July 8. — Yesterday the wind ^wa» pretty moderate ,g,nd fair, but to-day it blows a perfect 'hurricane, so that we must be contented to remain in our present quartisrs till the weather become piore favourable. This afforded the people and D^e anothef* opportunity of meeting together in the house of God^an -opportunity not the less valued that 'it was unexpected. I address/d them from Isa. xxxii. 2, * And a man shall be aii hiding- place from the wind, and a covert from the j^mpeBt.' The state of th^day suggested the subject to Jbhe speaker, and the same circumstance seemed to give it greater force with the hearer* A view of a St - Kilda storm ^vas certainly presented tq us this day. Tlie s]?a all in a commotion — ^its billows risinfv / '. mouittains high, and dashing with fury against the I .! 'l^Ay rocks all arouad, which oblige them in their A >/«.' \ *" V \' ■ . •r J) '. ■ j WAITING A JiD WORKING. ; - - ISS' turn (io retire Rnd sink into their motlier ocean^ the columns of spray which issue out of this conflict, and overtop the highest moiintains — all these present a sight awfully grand and sublime. The Lord, however, ^ rides on the storm, and can say to the raging sea and ■ •! furious wind, ' Peace, be still/ and immediately .thel-e " \ y\ calm. Nay, more, he can say so, and thafr^ with. * . effect, to the storms and billows which threaten iiis^- ' " Church, ^nd she too enjoys a calm. Besidej,.the ' , Church founded on himself as the Itook, like the island of St. Kilda, iti.the middle of ocean's storms stands unmoved and unshaken by all .the blasts, jand -billowsvthat assailit. • "' • . "i'^c^ai/, J%9.— The wind stJfl continues tg ^ blow fres^ though less so than yesterday, and it is ' otherwise by ftp g^ns. fair for our purpos^; so that ., we. mUsfc wait ^atHntly the Lord's time. If he has more work tor me to do here, I am willing to remain —and remain I must, till that work is dohei Oh, may he oveirule" the detention for his glory! At the usual hour "the people aasembled for sermon, when I a.ddressed"them from Song of Soloriion ii. 3,' .'I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit wj^^s^iYeet to my taste:' I must say that the doctriffer^wis sweet to my own taste, and I doubt not, that some of my hearers found it so too, ' Mn regard to themselvea » .. "Mondc^JvJ^ 1 2.— In t^e» evening I preached from JohrilHfe2, /An^l, i^i be lifted up, will , IG ' It rf' i (1 ]ff '•^ '\^.^-- -,*■■ . :'■■"' >.■ ■*: ^' *v HISLAS'^ aEllMON IN ST, KII.d:v. ^ • " rd may send youto us ' »gam? I could make no o.fter reply at the Lrk (tor my ^feel.nga^had quite overcome me) but to address them ini.e yrords of the apostfe 'Only let V Lifa V ^ I » FINAL FAREAVELL. l«7 s it beconjetli the gospel <5f come and see you, or else b^ lur afl^rs,' &c. (PhiLi. 27) .¥. Tuesday, July 13. — ^To- your Christ absent, I "ISLA speak of the ii^P of mind with which the people of St. KUda anil took.'leav^jof each other yesterday morning, is no easy matter. We had several separa- tions before now that were .sufficiently affecting, but^ this exeeeded them all- Tears were shed in abundance between us. The thouglit that/in all probability we should not see one another/ a^ain in the flesh, and that this would be th^ last interview we should have till we meet before the tribunal of Jesus, reached our hearts lilce an arrpw. It wa'yjpmpletely overwhelming; Ipbrdught to ./my reepllection what is ™said of Paul at^ the elders* of E|JHesus (A^. xx. sV, 3'8)' that they all wept- sore— ^sort-owing toosf^f all for the words which he. spoke, that they should see his face no fnore; a&i^fter his esaa^ik^Jqiraj^ with them on the shore, and so we parted." ' • ' if'^ "^^^m^ Kl 6v ./- J! I ; I); .1; » 17 I i i- :.'< ( I 'I ! it 4 \l. /»? n, / 7^ / "«?. i.^.' '^^- r^f .\ :,-F iM { IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) ?? ^ ^./ ,» :^ is- f4\ 4^ ^ <^ •: <^ V ]■ r-jr— s. f^ ^ ^ f' 1.0 I.I 11.25 125 tit m as 120 |l. g K ' ai I I i)h^ III _,Saaices Coporation Vif^ ^/ (>l6)l7a-4S03 % V ■•/ y ..f. m "Ir Ci^ ... A* 'Ms :-■,•:?.■/: ■"'j»^ *.' f^ M^ If ! 1 f y lili 1 . .■ j ■ \ ! [ I i, I* "' 1 1 1 » , Pf iJt;j;i*|lWR' ■ ■ ■■■ ■■•:•'!' I i CHAPTER X. ' EVAKOELlBTICWOBlt'— AHECDOTES— JOUKXAIS. . r |H£RE was no man, in his day, whote labours in the service of the gospel abounded more than his. On Sabbath, when at home, he always delivered three sermony. Once a month he preached regularly in Inverness and in Dingwall, and^ for a considerable time, statedly in Invergordon. In not a few places he was invariably present on communion occasions, usually preaching every day;, besides giving to many ministers occasional and more limited assistance. He often went on excursions to various parts of the Highlands, preaching as he went. During three months of each year he preached, on an average, two sermons a day; and in no year of his life in Ross-shire did he preach fewer than three hundred sermons. He preached upwards of ten thousand times during the last thirty-six years of his life; and never delivered an unstudied discourse. This was not owing to his confining himself %) a set of sermons which he constantly repeated ; for he haa left among his papers skeletons of discourses on almost every text on which a sermon co^ld be 'S _.^tf¥_- EVA>^GELISTIC WORK. 180 ( written, besides notes of lectures on the Gospels, nnd other parts of Scripture. , During the first years of his lyork in the north lie always rode from place to place, the black ma^ which carried him being everywhere well known, and almost as readily recognised as her master. " If my mare could speak," he once said, "she woulil say, 'The gospel may be good, and to others it may do good, but as for me, I am ten times tired of it'" Latterly a comfortable gig, drawn by his: trusty "Paddy," conveyed bim on his frequent joumeyings. He was fully more qireful about "Paddy's" comfort than about his own. He has been known, ofbener than/ once, after a &tiguing journey, to use the scythe in mowing a supper for the horse before looking jout for a supper for himself His " Paddy" deserVei! aM the cfte expended on him, for, like the horse of another evangelist, he had done more for the gospel than all the mitred bishops in the land. . ;^*' The Lord's care of (is life an^heipth throughout ' his many journeys was most remarkable On his way to preach to a congregation in Moray-, shire^ he reached the ford of the Findhorn when thei. river was in flood. He was urged by friends not^^^jfe^f attempt the crossing; but a congregation waited to' hear the gospel, an^^ tliu^ was no other way of reaching them, And so he resolved to try the ford. He had scarcely entered it, when both horse and rider were carried down by the stream. He kept '■ • . '^Vr 7 • -t-; -*' - ' "• '-' ' • . '" "•" ■f» 1 « f ._ . 1-^ \ •rr # /■ 190 AXECDOTES. ( i ■ his saddle till the water shallowed on a sand bank in the middle of the river, a considerable clistanceL^ below where he had entered it. Thei^ the horse la^ stranded, till ropes were thrown across by the peop^ wIk) were watching on the bank, and pulled both rider and horse safely to land. / ' Approaching Auldearn on a winter night, he Was met in the darkness by two men, one of whom seized hi^ horse's bridle, and the other, grasping his arm, demanded' his watch and purse, offering hifli the nibber's usual sterQ, alternative. " This was Hot the^ , reception I expected," he said, "on coming to^reach ftt Auldearn." On hearing this, one of^he men Immediately said to his companion, "This is Mac- donald, w;e had better let hina alone;" and they (sucfdenly disappeared in the darkjd|^ This was not the first time that conscience 8^P|r €ven a robber from harming ar servant of the Stor^ Having caught col<| oi^^one of hi§i journeys, and refusing rest in order to^employ some means of cure, he became at last seriodsly ill. The pores of his skin so closed that the usual means of producing perspiration entirely failed, and to procure this was deemed essential to his recovery. Hector Holm heard of his illness, and went to visit him. After conversation with him, and discovering what was requii-ed in order to his cure, he went about among the houses around the manse, and asked the inmates to assembljB to hear a lecture from the minister. r: . I-.-. .ik \ ■ ; ANECDOTES. 191 '^r 4 Tlie people immediately gathered All this was done unknown to Mr, Macdonald. When the kitchen of the manse was fuU Hector went to the bedroom, and told the minister %ab the people were assembled and were expecting a\cture. "I cannot rise to speak to them/' he saidA" But will it not be hard," Hector asked, "to send them away without 'a word?'"- " But how can I manage ^ speak to them in my present state ?" Hector, seJbg that he "had begun to consider how this opportunity could be ased, suggested that he should sit Im in bed, wrapped in blankets^ the people sitting in\be pi^juage outside the room, and that he should r^d and expound a passage of/Bcripture. To this hi at once agreed; and so the people came, and the minister began to address them, becoming interested in his subject, his usual fervour warmed hii^ up;Vnd before the lecture was conduded he' was wet\with copious perspiration. He then by down, sle^ quietly all night, and awoke quite well in the mom^g. Hector used to say that h|e„ was the best phj^ician Mr. Macdonald ever hadf A dose of preaching was the only prescription be gave. This his paLnt had often found to br a delight to his heart, bu\on this occasion it was %cure to his body also. During his frequent travels he came in cbntact with all description^ of persons, and, owing k his unconsciousness and tact, oould easily adapt hilself to all their various phases of character with\)ut l':Hq .h J a I' If' ! ii I' ii "■:.^^^!^i3^^:-- - ■■ - f -■,!•■ ■; I I, ' ,'! I. ! i :l mn^ 102 ANECI \ comproiriising his position ^ a minister, or laying liis awn peculiarity aside. \ On board a ateamer he ono^ encountered a young Oxonian, who, being in Sootkud, was disposed to regard himself as an impersonation of refinement and leaiiiing moving amidst barbari^ and ignorance. He was inveighing against the barbarous jargon . spoken on the north side of the T^eed, and wished the group of listeners to whom he\ was exhibiting to understand, that the English labguage, in its purity, could not be spoken out of Oxford, except by one who had learnt it there. A h'itle after, the polite Oxonian uttered an oath. Mh Macdonald turned to him at. once, and said, "Vl?^ere is the purity of the English language now? I did. not expect 4t would be polluted in passing through the lips of an Oxonian." . c Travelling in a stage-coach with Major on one of his journeys to the south, after having taken a pinch of snuff he offered the box to the officer. " I am not given to thes^ minor vices," he said in a very supercilious and haughty tone, at the same time uttering an oath. " Of course not," Mr. Macdonald rejoined, as he "quieUy put the box in his pocket, , " the major vices better suit your taste." While crossing Kessock ferry along with the minister of Killeaman, among their fellow-passengers was a drunken, exciseman, at whose feet a dpg was lying. The gauger, observing the nnnistepj, raised A r~ ,1 -W*'^ \ '.*>l. •*-l'» ANECDOTES. 193 tlie dog, and holding it on his arms, went up to Mr. Kennedy and said, "Will you christen this child?" Mr. Ketonedy, horrified, at once ordered him away. He th^n presented the dog to Mr. Macd'onald, who immediatdy FMe up and said, *• Do you acknowledge youj!Belf the ^father of "what you now present for baptisih!" The exciseman,. drunk as he was, saw that he was caught in his own snare. Looking wildly ^t the ministers, he flung the dog into the sea» and skulked back to his seat amidst the jeers of all who were on board. A, farmer once said to him, after hearing him preach, "Dr. Macdonald, you are the preacher for me, you never weary us with long sermons." The doctor, who saw at once that its brevity was regarded as the great recommendation of the sermon, said, "I fear much,Mr. R- ^, if you shouldever hai^pei to get into he&y^, ^ou would soon be disposed to say, like the little *Boys^ school, TIease, master, let me oui'" Quite unintentional, but less doubtful, Was the compUment j^d to his preaching by one of the Inverness magistrates. While a certain doctor ruled within the domain of the Established Church in the Highland capital, he was careful, so far as his power extended, to exclude from the High Church such preaching as would contrast with the polished platitudes and the poisoned sweets which he him- self dealt out to his listless hearera Somehow the wild man of Ferintosh found access to the pulpit (108) \ ia 1^:' '"I ■» j»i' * ''vT •lid • I .lip;'. I'l.i / 191 A!f ANECDOTES. r of the High Qhurch o^e day. The magistrates, as usual, were present. One of them, wfaQ was always accustomed to take a q^iet nap during the sermon, and who never dreamt of the bailies being furnished with easy chairs for {any other purpose, found himself not so comfortable as usual on that day. On coming out of church, he was aske4 what he thought of the minister of Ferintosh. ''The fellow," he saicl, with great indignation, " did not allow me sleep a wink all day." This was the only compliment to his preach- ing to which his friends ever heard himself referring. ^Amiable though he was, and prone to too great facility, he could, when occasion required, hold his ground very firmly, and rise , superior to all the influence which might be employed to sway him. .During one of his tours in Lochaber, he was invited by Lochiel to, spend a night in his mansion. Besides the clergjonan, there was a large paHy of guests. Between nine and ten o'clock, caoel-playing having 3J)«en proposed^ Mr. Matidonald at once rose, and Agoing up to Lochiel, asked him whether he was to hold "family worship. *'0h, no," he said, "I cannot think of that to-nightw" ** And will you not allow me to engage in worship for you V* " Not to-night,** his host replied ; " it would give offence to my visitors." * " If not," the minister said, " I must go away; for I cannot remain 'where my Master* is denied." Lochiel, anxious that there should be- no spot on his Highland hospitality, but quite resolved •» ^ / T ♦ ., '*■ c .•■f;";ft JOURNAL. 105 against worship, urged him to remain. But he was quite as unyielding as his host, and left the house at dead of night ; and walked several miles ere he rdEiched a place of shelter. • Of all his journals in which he recorded the experiencies and results Qf hi* evangelistic toura only fragments remaia But "the recoijd" of all his labours is "on high," and "the ^^.y'* shaU folly disclose theur resulta . T**e firat extract describes a preaching tour under- taken at the request of the Scottish Missionary Society. It is specially interesting as cotitaining notices of his last interviews with his father. "Mhnd^iy, March 1, 1830.— Left home after dinner, drank tea with Mr. Sage, crossed at eight o'clock to Invergbrdon, stopped at H. Hbhn's, spent a comfortable night with him. £ "rttc«day,yfarcfe 2.— Left H. Hol3%' at eight A.M. Breakfasted ^ith Mh Laing. SetUed with him for stipend. Preached at Kihnuir for the Scottish Missionary Society, in GaeHc, fix)m 1 John 11-4, and English, Acts xxvia 28— collection £5, 4s. lOd. Dined in the evening at Mra Hay M'Kenzie's. Spent the evening very agreeably with herself, and son, and daughter-in-law. Had femily worship at nine at which aU about the household and some from the neighbourhood attended— slept at Mr. Matheson's. ^ " Wedruiada.y, March 3.— Left Kilmuir at seven '■J i. 7 ' 't I ', * ,^ . r S ! V «' .^1 im TOUR IN BUTBIBLAHIK A.M. Breakfasted with Br. Mackintosh, and was refreshed by seeing him. In the forenoon crossed to Dornoch, with the expectation of preachfiig for the Scottish Missionary Society; bufc Mr. Kennedy having had a public collection the Sab^th preceding in his church, did not deem it proper to come upon the people so soon again for another ^ coHeotion ; tlierefore agreed that I ahould preach^ in his church for that purpose on my return from Caithness. The 25th curt was accordingly fixed. Proceeded after dinner to Rhives— Mr. Qunn not at home when I arrived but appeared about supper time. In tl^e evening \he house filled with people from the neigh^ bourhood. I addressed them ar&mily worship at S considerable length ftt>m the chapter read. „ The t^people seemed much impressed, and to receive what they heard as anxious to improve the day of small ^things. " r/mr«day, lfa«* 4— Left Rhivea at an early hour, and breakfasted at the manse of Clyne. Im- mediately after breakM Mr. M'Kay, having collected • his people for a diet of eatechiaing, asked me to address them. Gave them a short discourse from Pa cxix. 18, and tben proceeded to Helmsdalei where I had fixed to preach at two o'clock. Here a laige congregation vera assembled. I addressed them, in Gaelic from John i. 4, and in English from Pii. I xxxvl 7. Collection for the Sottish Missionary Society about six guineaa After/ dining at Mr. • I V-f^ t -!> ir-f^-T -U.' VISIT TO HI8 fATUER. S, jq; M'Kay's (the I merchant) i^ith Messrs. Ross and Campbell, proceed in the evening, with Mr. Camp- bell, to the manse of KUdonan. Mr. Campbell gave me two guineas, one from himself, and one in lieu of a collection/ from his people, for the Society. His parish b6iyg depopulated, he could not hold out to me any cfncouragenent in the way of a collection. Felt quit4 at home in his house; his mother-in-law is a huWble and judicious Christian. • *'M(hiday, March S.-^Uft Kildonan manse , Friday forerioon, and arrived at Reay in the even- ing. /Mr, and Mrs. M'Kay seemed overjoyed at my entering the parlour, and I felt no less so at seeing them. On Saturday, took a trip to see my father —found people assembled for p^yer in his house when I arri^— and joined with them in the duty. This prayer-meeting, I was happy to learn, was some time ago transferred to his house from another place, owin^jl bis inability to attend: it elsewhere, and is nowlifularly once a fortnigbt kept in his house. He moderates the Ineeting, and points out the psalms to be sung, and the chapters to be read, though he long ago lost the use of bis sight. I was pleased to hear him do so on the present occasion. After the people dismissed I had a long conversation with him, and was happy to find his fliind entire,- bis spirits lively, and bis faitb firm on the rock. 'Many a shake does my faith get,' he said, 'but it is my comfort that the rock on whicb it rests cannot 'f' || I ./jyiil 1 M i ^ ■«■*. > - - - '■-"■'.^-->'" I ^' f! i1 'SI, I t < t . i 1 1 i 'AS. I) .! **, IF -^' ! I I 'I f i 198 IKTERVIBW WITH HIS FATHEB. be sbitken.' ^Yesf^rday, preached in Gaelic without doors to an immense crowd, from 1 Cor. xv.. 1-4^ and in English within^ froi|i Hab. iii" 2. A spirit of diyision reigns in^tbis parish at present, people againsfc minister, and minister -against people. Neither party has adopted the proper method wi^h the other. "The cloven-foot has got-iiH_ the Lord- hasten the day when it shall br thrust out, none but He can heal the breach. The people, hojirever (even those who generally absent themselves fronj church),, seemed to hear me with" attention; and I believe* the gospel wbuld yet reclaim the absentees from ordinances, and have the effe6t of restoring matters to harmony and order. -^i%w d^y, IjeaHed in the forenoon at Sandside; had some discussion with Major Innes respecting Irving's views of the human nature of Christ; found, on referring 'to some passages of Scripture on the subject, that he yielded to its authority, and waa satisfied that Trving's views were wrong. • . „.^ /- " In the afternoon, went again to see my father, and spent nearly two hours wiflv him, much to my ^atisfaction. Among other* things he said, *The mountains of Bether areuttimes covered with mist^ so that the travelleir does not see his way; but on the land of promise which lies beyond them rests no mist; and Jesus is my guide to that happy «knd.' ^ . "Thursday, March l\. — On Tuesday, preached A Views <; » PREACHES TQ III8- FIRST FLCTCK. - JOi) at Stratliy, in the Parliamentary Cliurcli — in Gaelic from Ps. Ixxxix. TS; and in English, from Ror iii. 22. The house quite crowded. After the servu a. collection was ^ade for the j^ottish MiSsioiiJir. Society, amouptin^ to £3, 18s.— considered fair ii suc^ a place.— On Wednesdaif, jtreciched at Farr foi the Scottish Missionary Society, in Gaelic from Isa! Ixiu. 1, andsEngJish. from Ps. cxix. '18— collection nearly £7. Came, back in the evening, aftelftining with Mr. Mackoizie, to SCrathy and slept at Ur. M'GUlivray's.. This momihg breakfasted at Big- ITouse. Major and Miu M'Kay received me veiy kindly, and I was happy to visit a dwelling in which I acted as tutor thirty-five years ago;' but it threw a sh^ of melancholy over my spirit* to find , that its old inhabitants are gone, and that only one out of a'fami% of twenty is now to be SQen\within "^^ose walla Oh, the wasting band of time ! After breakfast, preached at the new Meeting-house at Strathh^lulale,-once a part of my mfesioff in Caith- ness; s^w but few faces in the coiigre^tion wh6m ¥ could l^cognise as old acquaintances; my heart, warm^, however, towaixls the.young of^e flock which oncd were mine, and, I felt much ft^edom in addressbg them. After ^rmon, i-eturhed to ©ig- hodse with Maj^r M'Kay, who with his family"^ attended, and spent the evening very comfortably under his roof; had family worship and a lecture, at which ail about the house atten^d!^^ Mr. M'tjJiUi- ■ \ ;■ ] fe^-i fe> : '% •'\- ^ *' B i 1 1 ■ f : 1 ,i 1 =^1* *? ■\ ■ ,<•'■•■ ' '^ ■ . . , • ft.> " • . ,■ ' •-v-- . . ■ ■ •-■ i 1- -■ ■-^/ - ■ . ■ .jV .*■' ;■ ; '-,;■, ■ ^ Y . ' r ■1 ^^H B SSEBjSSJS ^^^M ^ .... „_., y «- .L,:i -J-JRTV^fF' 4"'^*^ 200 BEBHOMS IN CAITUNESSS. ^■rf--. >ii I!' . vray and hfe sister, who accompanied me botli to Farr and Strathhaladale, stopped here all n^h\ " Saturday evening, March 1 3. — ^Yesterday, came ^'* to^Ipay to breakfast. In the forenoon, called on IMaj^l^Innes; found him frank and'^kind^ — hope well of hiiQ. In the afternpon, called on. my father- found Hirn^in his usual spirits; his bodilybstrc^ngth, . he says, is decaying gradually; but thou|^h he cannot ^ say the inner man 'is growing, he hops the Lord gives it what food keeps it in life. "This afternoon, baptized a child of Captain 'M'Ponald's, Major . Innes' nephew and heir; the Major and bis lady attended; I. felt freedom in the 8ei*vice and enjoyed the occasion. Spent the rest of the day jn my room; the liord prepare me for to-morrow's work. " Saturday^ March 20.—This week, had my , hands full of work, for which I should be thankful. The Lord gave me physical strength. On Sabbath, preached- at Beay, in Gaelic in the open air, from I John i. 1-4, and in English in church, from James v« 19, 20, when a collection was made for the Scottish Missionary Society amounting to JSIO, odds. ,Fel6 considerable freedom in :both languages, and particularly in English. During the Gaelic service the wind, being boisterous, molested speaker and hearers not a little. In the evening, ai^drj^ssed the children of the Sabbath school, which is conducted by the t^adier, and seems to be in a thriving conditioa -■•# \ 8EBM0NS AND COLLECTIONS. . 201 " Monday.— PresLched ^t Thurso in Gaelic. and English for the Society— collection £13, oddS— Ga«Uc from Pa cxix. 18, English, Isa. Ixiil 1. After dining at the manse, went in the evening to Bu(^iea Tue&iay.—frewihed at Watten for the Society, from Rom; V. ''2— collection £8, 10s. 6d. Afte^ dining with th^ wj(|^y fi^mily at the maW, went down to Wick so far on my way to Latheroh, where (D.V.) I preach next day. Spent the evening very .comfortably with Mr. fhin. " Wednesday.— St&rted early for Latheron, ^hfre I arrived: to- breakfast; dii^ncQ eighteen m^rs. Preached here to a crowded audience in Gaelic ibmv, 1 Cor. xl 10, and in English from Isa. Ixiii.Ji^^ collecthan for the Society £12, odds. • : '\ "Thursday morning came to Halkirk; distltice *^enty miles. Preached there for the Society, in \ CkeIjo-fw)m 1 Tim. 4i. 5,. 6, in English from Ph. -^kxvi. 7— collection £9, odds. Stopped all night with good Mr. Munro, and enjoyed his society much. "^nday.— Came to Buckles to breakfast; aft*r , partipg with my fiiemls there about eleven o'clock, proceeded to the parish of Reay. Examined a Society school in a district of the parish ; called on my fathei-, arid got to the manse abotit six o'clock |P.M. V Saturday.— HhiB day, called on my father for 1-j : ;! ! «i ft 202 VISITS BREA.DALBANB. . MJi! r the last time; spent some time witb him. ^e^ere mutually affected at parting, not knowing %heker we should see one another again on this side Jordan; he sent his thousand blessings to my wife and family, and 'May we mee«!« he said, ^ where we shall not pai-t.* The parting with my dear aged parent has made me rather dull this evening for study; but the thought of meeting him in a better place comforted ine. "Saturday, March 27.-.Preached at Reay, Sab- bath last, in Gaelic from Rom. viii. 29, English, Isa. xxviii; 12. Left Reay on Monday mofning! came in the evening to Kildonan. — Tuesday, preached at Helmsdalc—Wednesday, at Clyne.— Thursday, at Dornoch, and arrived here safely this afternoon. Found wife and family y^kM Deo gloria.'* The following notes refer to a visit to his favourite Breadalbane in 1835, after a severe illnesa The work donftr by him then, which to him was the, abridged exercise of an invalid, would be accounted more than enough for the healthier day^of ordinary men: — **Lfeft home on Monday^ September 7, accom- panied by my son James; rested and dined at Inverness, and got to Moy at night "Tuesday,, Sept. 8.— Started from Moy at .seven A.M. Breakfiisted at the Bridge of Carr, and stopped an hour or so a^ Lynvuilg. Got to Kingussie by three. Remained there all night ; preached at five r ' '^." ■ 9 'L- ■ JOUBNAL. S03 to a pretty large congregation assembled in chui-cli, my anival having been looked for some time in the afternoon. Preached from Heb. iv. 11 in Gaelic, and a short word in English ^frdm Ps. xxv. 1 1 . Notwithstanding my late illness, ^ad cause of great thankfulness that I felt not the worse, either in body or mind,"for the service. The d*iy wet and raining almost throughout. ■ - ^X " WediMsday, Sept 9.— Startted from Kingussfe after an early breakfast ; fed at Dalwhinnie ; dined at Dalnacardoch, and got that evening to the Inn of Coiseville, eighteen miles from balnarcardoch, and forty-five from Kingussia Owin^ to the hilliness of the road for a great part of the Way, both the hoi-se and driver seemed pretty tired when we reached Coiseville. The driver, after swallowing a little bread and milk, immediately threw himself into his bed and fell into a profound sleep, out of'whicb the sound of singing and prayer performed at his side, and to a houseful of people, could not move him — James remained still as a statue. "Thursday, Sept 10. — ^The morning being very wet, we remained at our quarters till after breakfast, when we started, and arrived at Lawers by twelve — distance ten miles. Margaret and her husband were happy to see us, and the people of the place no less so — ^a people once dear to me. I felt equally glad at seeing them all, minister and people ; and had great cause of thankfulness that^we thus arrived i an**"?. •iftiim'?. 'J Ai ..^ W^w^ 1 '■: I m ,i.i .r-> ^ . ,\' 264 .tl 'f*! ■;"|im-'i i; ?r WOI^K AT LAW^lES. safely at our destination, without injuiy sustained, or accident occuring. Jt being the fast for the com- munioti at Lawers, I agreed to take the GaeUc, and j^reached from Rom. vii. 9 — * Fop I was alive with- out the law once/ &a Mr. Elder, of KiUin, preached in English;, his discourse evangelical, and delivered with lionsiderable earnestness. V^ "Friday, Sept 11.— Preached at four jo'clock At Ard^on^g, a spot once highly favoured ah^ endefrfJ-ed to ine by various considerations. The people very attentive, and seemed to listen with feelings which would remind one of former timea Ah ! jirdeonag ! would that these times returned ! I preacfhed from Isa. xlvi. 6 — * To whom wiU ye liken me,' &a "Saturday, Sept. 12.— Prea6hed the ^alf of the dj^y in the tent at Lawers; Mr. Donald Jiacke»zie, Irately from the nortb, preached the other half; bis disco^, for deamess and point, was far beyond my anticipations, his prayer excellent, distinguished alike by earnestness and unction. My discourse was founded on Isa. liv. 17, last clause — 'Their right- eousness is of me, saith/ t|ie Lord.' The audience numerous and attentiv^, and several individuals deeply afiected. • "Sahhath, September 18.— Preached the action sermon in English, fro^ki Rom. iii 25—* The right- eousness of God declared,* &c. Felt much liberty during the whole service. In the evening concluded the service in the tent by an address founded on 1/ . ■ U'i^'i 3lfv«*tl <,,Viv^ k'; 1 4 ik %. *Vrf- RECRUITED BY PREACHINO. 808 Ts^ Iv. l^*-^Lei bImTthat has no money come.' Many of the hearers Evidently miich affected; the Lord undoubtedly w^ -pVesent, for his word bad a melting effebt. / \ . ^J "Monday, SeptU.— Preached in Gaelic fromRom. vii. 14 — * For we know that the law is 8i)iritual, but I am carnal/ &A Had Mr. David Campbell, of Glenlyon, for mV colleague, whose discourse was plj^in, but lively and/rousing: The people listened during the whole daV with deep attention, and many among them disoove^d symptoms of true concern under the word. The/Lord revive us as m the days of old I During the/whole of the solemn occasion I was thus enabled to/ preach a discourse eveiy day, and this, owing to the previous state of my health, I preferred to takinflf any whole day. I found upon trial, too, that it aiiited me; and what thanks can I render to jibe Lord for it, that I feel as well after the work is over as/before ji began | ^ . — ^^ ^ — , __ V "I felt humbled and thankful at meeting seven*!^ . mdividuals during the occasion who mentioned their haviiig received their first impressions of truth under my former labours in this place ; from ten to twelve of this description spoke to me, and felt it their duty to^communicate the fact to me, thinking, I suppose, * that it might be some incredulity of mine on this . JUbject that made me give up coming to Breadalbane for some years past. I ^as glad to learn, however. /that they and oth|?jn3 continue to walk in the truth. '-*^' ¥■ \ 206 TIBirsbt^NLTO ':M "Tuesday, Sept 1 6.— Being engaged to preach in Glenlyon on Wednesday, a place some years ago highly favoured with an outpourmg of the Spirit, Mr. and Mrs. CampbiBll, Lawers, and Mr. and Mrs. Camphell, of Glenlyon, and we, set out this forenoon V for the Glen. Jffe took the Fortingall road, which was rather a round, but preferable upon the whole fw^fl-'gig or parriage ; the road in some parts of it ratrer hilly, and in others rather rugged and stony. We arrived at the Manse of Glenlyon about five p.m. ^-distance from Lawers by this route eighteen miles. The Glen throughout presents much of thfe picturesque and romantic in its appearance. On our way we cialled on; the ipinister of Fortingall, who seemed to have taken the visit well, and he aaked me to preach a week day to his people, if I could* not give a Sabbath. Eighteen year? ago this gentleman vowed that I should never prfeach in his parish — wonders never cease I I agreed readily enough to preach in his chureh on Friday afternoon. " Wednesday, Sept 1 G.^Preached i^ th^ church of Glenlyon from Isa. Iv. 3— 'Hear and your souls shall live,* to a very crowded house. Many of the hearers were in tears. The scene reminded me in some measure of the days of other years in this place. ''Thursday, Sept 17.— Starting %)m Glenlyob at ten, accompanied by the minister 5)f Lawers and his wife, we made fo^ Killin, where I was under* promise to preach, and arrived there between one W' ., .1;. •^ EAQSR HEARERS. * 207 and two p.m. The service commenced at two. The church crowded; preached from Heb. iil 19; felt much Kberty ; the people veiy attentive. It is pleas- ing to think that the parish is favoured with an active and faithful pastor in Mr. Elder. After ser. mon, and taking some dinner at the manse, we eame to Lawers in the evening. # "Friday, Sept 18,— Preached this afternoon at Fortmgall, agreeably to previoas engagement; the church quite crowded, and the audience reiarkably attentive ; some were in tears. T preached from Rom. ia 22— 'For there is no difference.' After taking some refreshment at Mr. MacdonaM's, the clergyman of the parish, we returned to Lawers in the evening. "Saturday, Sept 19.— Spent thi«i day in occa- sional walks, and preparation for the duties of to- morrow. . "Monday, Sept 21.— Yesterday preached at Lawers to an immense congregation; people assembled from all quarters; and shearers who had gone i few days before from Breadalbane to the neighbourhood of Dunkeld and Perth, forty and fifty miles, came back, and returned immediately* after the Sabbath was over. Several of this description did the same at the time of the communion. And what is not less remarkable, their employers gave them liberty. I preached yesterday in English— for the En• ;»: 208 JOURNAL. ■>' ■ Sir?;- ^ 'C (the people having assembled in crowds at that hour craving for sermon), #om John vi. 67 — ' Will ye also go away?' The congregations at both times very mucb affected, and especially during the latter service. I At eight o'clock, when we were to have family c . worship, the hopse was crowded with people. I read and lectured on Ps. cxxvi. During the last verses almost all were in tears. Jttie Lord has not left Breadalbane yet I felt riiSch affected at parting with many of the people, after the services of the i]ay were over. Tlie feelings Of sorrow were mutual. ."This day we proceeded to Einlochranoch, accom- panied by Mf. Campb^ and Maigaxet, and arrived there about fiv^^is^nce from Lawers twenty-two milesL Here 1° aii^'tb^ preach to-morrow. " Tv£8day, 8(^. 22.— Preached at KinlochrwioSi in Mr. Macdonald's church, and notwithstanding the day being boisterous, with rain and wind throughout, the church was quite crowded. I preached in English from Isa. vi. 63, Gaelic from Rom. viii. 2. After dining at Mr. Macdonald's, we came in the evening tor Mrs. Stewart's, Crossmount, three iniles from Kinlochranoch. Mre. S. is a well-disposed and an * accomplished woman. Here 'Mai^;aret*and her hus- band and { Spent our last night together. ; " Wednesday, 8(^t. 2^.— The wind and rain of yesterday were extntordinaiy, and this morning ' scarcely less so ; nevertheless, James and I proceeded at seven for Dalnacardoch, I beins under engagement m •'Y^'- ■V^fSWif'. ff. / BRsilDALBANE IN 18M. §09 , • s. to preach at Kingussie at six in the eveni^ig. We breakfasted at Dalnacftrdoch, and arrived at Kingussie by four. Preached ^ six o'clock in Gaelic frhra Rom. xiv. 12, and in English from Rom. iii. 27— 'Where is boasting ?i Distance travelled to-day, thirty^ine miles, and Neither man nor horse fatigued what cause of thanks ! ?. " Thursday, Sept 2^.— Left Kingussie at ten this forenoon, and preached in the dmrch of Rothiemnrchus at one. English fron^ Rom. iii., and Gaelic, Rom. \uh 3. Duke of Bedfoini, the Marchioness of ABer- com, &c., ip church. Felt liberty notwithstanding the presence of such personages, because I felt as in the presence of God, and felt that these were but 'fellow-worma After the servicf baptized a child to Mr. Grant, the minister at the manse, and passed the evening at Lynvuilg. Friday, Sept. 25.-^|i:eached this day on i^y way home at the church 6i Puthil— in Gaelic from 2 Peter i 10, in English from Ps. cxix. 11. Came in the evening to Moy. Thanks to the God of all my mercies that I feel much better after such labours than when I left home!" ' In the folTowing year he again visited Breadalbane, and thus recounts his labours on that occasion :— • ** Thursday, Sept. 1, 1836.~^Left hoihe accom- panied by James, my soa Preached in the evening in the East Chiirc^ Inverness, in Gaelic, from Pa xlii. 2--'Myj3oul 4iiiirsteth for God,' &c. i n (108) 14 r / / t|M' tio STRATHSPEY. . "Friday, Sept. 2— Started in the morning for Rothiemurchus, Strathspey, where I am to assist at the communion. Breakfasted at Moy, fed at Bridge of Carr, and dined and stopped all night at^Lynvuilg. " Saturday, Sept 3.— Preaehe^ at Rothiemurclwia in Gaelic and in English from Luke vii. 47—' Her sins are forgiven; for she loved much* Each ser- vice conducted in the open air. The weather pretty comfortable. "Monday, Sept., 5.— Yesterday preached at the tent to an immense and \&ry attentive audience, from Heh^ ix. 26 — * But now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin/ &c. A solemn stillness prevailed during the whole day, and several of the people were in teara This especially^ under the concluding exhortation. 2b-(2a^ preached in Gaelic at the tent, from John xv. 2 — * Every branch in me that beareth not fruU he taketh auxiy, and every branch that beareth fruit he purgeth it* &a Preached the EnglisJ^ in church, after the Gaelic was concluded, fiom Rom. viil 33— Mi i^ God that justifieth,' &a Had the Duke of Bedford and his family for my hearera. Dined with the duke, by invitation, in the afternoon. Found his grace kind, complaisant, and affable There appears to be sopie good thing in him towards thetlird God of Israel Oh, ^ that there jseere more of his sort! He was pleased to^express himself as highly gratified with the serrawi I;had* preached that day — a compliment 1 ^ .■ ■'t '^Sp^i'f.i^ii , , \ ^tjAitJlJ^-iS ^^' A' THK duke's COMPLIMENT. ^, Jit which, no doubfc, afforded a morsel to Mr. Self in ma At the same time, I must say that I felt more happy at the idea of his having orthodoxy and reli- gion enouffh to approve bi the doctrine. Upon the whole, I ^ink this day has been attended with some power. The Lord grant that this may yet appear to have been the case. I enjoyed more than usual liberty in each language, and many of my hearers seemed to be much impressed. "Tue8day,8ept 6.— Left Rotbiemui-chus this morn- ing, and came to Kingussie to breakfast Preached in the church in the forenoon to a krge congrega- tioii, many of whom followed us from Rothiemu'rchus. Text in Gaelic, GaL vL lo-^' Neither circumcision availeth anything nor» uncircumcision, but a new creature.* English, John xv. 5— 'Without me ye caii do nothing.' After an early dinner at the manse, proceeded to Dalwhinnie, under heavy rain all the „ way. Stopped there all night. Had a lecture in the evening 'with the family, and some strangers that happened to be present ^ " Wednesday, Sept 7. — Proceeded inthe morning to Dalpacardoch. Breakfasted there, and had family worsh^ and a lectura Fed at Tummel Bridge, and proceeded to FortingalL Dined with Mr. M'Donald, the minister. Promised to^ve him a week-day preaching before T left tp country. Started after dinner for Lawers, where we arrived about seven. Found friends well, and were mutually happy at im ».lJi4_fefc^V.K^.*^ ^ m '\- ] \ ■'•■ ■t 1 • 1 ■' 1 ■ ! 1 i 1' P^ [■■■■' 11 r,^ ■+ >, V « • ;■ I'l *'• *» 812 % BBEADALBAICB. seeing each otter. The Lord be ^raiaed. for his goo«^ r tiessl ' 1 ^ " nwrsffoy, p«/)f. 8.— Tihis being the fast for the communion, Mr.lJElder, Killin, preached in the fore-j^ noon in English, twth a lengthy and pithy disco from Pa. I 6 ; and I in Gaelic, after the from Eph. i. 19 — * The eaxeedi^g gteatneas of fits power to U8-ward who believe* Was ^lad to see again some old faces before me, on whom; years ago, the word preached had a melting influence, and who appeared still not to be impervious to impressiona Aller the Gaelic -service was over, Margaret's little baby was hapi^^ in the presence of the congregai* tjon, and calle^eorgina, after her grandmother and my once dear wifd. The annunciation of the name wakened up associations^ in my miiid which ha^. well-nigh overpowered my feelings "Saturday, Sept. 1 0. — Yesterday afternoon- preached at Ardeonug from Rj. xvi. 8 — ' I have set the Lord always before me.* The" congregation pretty attentive. -^^eonaig^B^^jA.a favoured spot I fear iti^ not now whjjSWMfe Thi9|||^ preached inEn^ish, in the chiiwP^^PEph. ii. t— ' And you hath he quickened,' &c. ; and afterwards in Gaelic at the^^tent, from Ps. Ixxii. 6— •He shali^ e^e down like rain, &a Felt considerable liberty^ '!» J*ng"ag«» and several of the hearers under di^Qly*^ were deeply affected. "Atomay, Sept. 1 2.i— Yesterday preached tlje ':> 4 iftA»^k^%^*Slk a^-ir VA,ij.. it ■^\ i. ha4 •iioon' 'e set ation - ^}^^^ '^ m^. .. ./ rards ahall- )erty_ tl)6 V '"''^^^^^K /^ <»v Gaelic -action 'sermon, from Rom. viti. 3^^* For what ' the law could not do/.&c. • Ood 8endim4f hit oivn S&n* &c The congregation immense; not under 7000. The attention deep and fixed. Every face among the vast multitude gave indications of earnest- ness and solemnity in hearing the word, and not a ^ few were in tears alm^t the wjiole time* I hope the word lias b©5n accompanied with power^some. This day preached at the tent to a congregation somewhat less than yesterday, but larger .ihan any that has been seen here -tiJ the Monday of a Com- munion since September ^817— a Mon(^y of great awakening, and/indeed, a day of Messiah's power. . This day reminded us of it in some measure. There were many tears shed, and much weeping and cry- ing. Text. Js^. XXXV. 10 — * For the rawKJmed of . the Lord shall return,* &a v The solemn work being now over, I would .h6re set up my Ebenczer and ' say, ' Hitherto the Lord has helped.' I should praise him for his preserving providence and supf)orting' grace, and especially for covering my nuineroui faults and filings from the eyes of 'men, and enabfing me to speak to fellow-cieatunes as if nothing stood be* tween Him and ma Blessed be liiis name, that* though He has often set my secret sins in the liglit of his own countenance, he has not as yet set them before the eyes of man.' I should now turn my face northward, and feel anxious to get* home ; but of ^ this, I see, I must not think for ^otheir weet^.' I I i J 21* t> OLENLYO^. ^ have several pressing applications to preach in some ^ parishes in the neighbourhood during the week, and V to reni^n^Jiere over Sabbath ; and I feel I must ^ield.^ ^e Lord prepare me for the work before me, and give effect to his own word I ^ " TiMsddy, Sept 1 a^Tj^is day preached at Killin, in Gaelic, from John ^10^-' // thou kneweat the gift of^odt &c. ; and in English, from Isa. Iv. 2 ' Eat ye tha^ which is good: The chuiih, though large, was pretty much crowded, and the congre^- ti«i very attentive. One here and there appeared to be affected. The Lord grant the impressions may be salutary and permanent ! In the evening, James and I drove overitoGlenlyon, accompanied by Messrs. Duncan and David Campbell and their wives, and arrived at our cpmfortable quartera there by eight. " Wednesday, Sept 14.— This day preached in Glenlyon Church, from Gen. vi. 22— * Thus did Noah; according to all that God * commanded him,' &c. The church was crowded; many o4ers being there besides the people of the glen. This was once a highly favoured spot, and I felt that the Lord has not forsaken it yet Many of the people were deeply impressed, and some of them, awakened twenty yearsago, not less so. I understand that Mr. David CampbeU's labours here of late have been blessed to •not a fpw among them, and especially to some young l>eople— a drcumstaiTce which makes the congre- ^» . f.'tj-. -.' '. j,-^ jx i.'U.j'., .''!. \^t»a^.-'- ,: .-A^'^ PORTINGALL. 215 gation exfcremely reluctant mini^r to Inverness, ai to part with their e^9tised^' in which thejr ai'e to be ** Thursday, Sept. 1 5.— Thiii day /preached at Fortingall to a large congregation. The church was cr 1 - 1*^3""*,'^- / I !:■ fil- 216. worship ; and during thi saciJent we had to nie\fc every evening in the chiirch, whLre we had crowd audiences. I believe these Jxercises have been' b essed to mt a few, and the people's anxiety to- attend them is certainly a tokeil for good. " S^i^rday, Sept. 17.-Speni yeBterdB.y and this day at Lawers with Mr. and krs. Campbell, being - the only leisure time we had toother since we came to this place. Enjoyed and stood in need of a dajB& or two's rest and recreation, after so many daw5 incessant labour. Besides, had the work of the ^# bath before me, which required preparation of mind and body. "Jf(mday,^.^«. 19.^ye,fcei-day foifenooii preached both in Gaelic and English to a lai^ crowd, not under 4000, who had assembled from different panshes round, and whose eagerness to bear the woixi could be read in almoU every fa^. The aspect of the congregation was both interesting apd affecting 1 preached in English from Matt, xi/ 20^' Th^n began he to upbraid tUe cUie^,' &c; 4nd in Gaelic from Ezek. xxxvu. 5, ^' Thus aaith the Lord Ood unto thse bonea; Behold, I will cause breath.to enter •into you, and ye shdl live; &a Enjoyed consider- able hberty, and felt unusually impressed with the importance of the promise, and the necessity of its tulfilment to many present Not a few were aU the ,time m teaw, wjiile Uie eyes of othera glistened with joy. The word had truly i melting effect. At five ¥\ ii . HOME. 217 m the evening I preached fo the people in the church. We were quite croWded; many of those who had come from a distance and heq-rd during the day having remained. I addi^ased them from GaL vi. 7, 8— « WJuOaoever a man soufeth, that shall he also reap; &a The subject had a rousing effect • and it being undei^tood that it mtiw to be my last discpuiB©, many were, no doubt, deeply affected on that account. The Lord be with them, dear people and maintain what he. has wrought an,ong them' Almost immediately after coming out of church, the house filled with people to attend family worship We were abnost aU in teare, and parted ^ that state. Oh. it is difficult, it is painful, to part with eome! No tie like that of Christian love! But I am called to breakfast, after which we start off for home. Home is home, after all. Blessed be God for a home on earth, but especially for the prospect of an everlasting home with himself; for his pre- sence is the believer's home wherever he is!; At that home I hope to meet with not a few of those with whom I ha;ve now parted, should we never meet again on earth. Oh, sweet prospect! " Urquhart Manse, Sept. 22.-.Left Lawers on Monday after breakfast, accompanied by Mr. Duncan Campbell and one Samuel M'Laren as far as Tummel Bridge (about twenty miles). Came that evenyig to Dalwhinnie (forty-three miles from Lawers) j next evemng to Moy (forty-five miles from Dalwhinnie) ; ■J. - f M It i' f it 218 GLASGOW COMMUNION. and this morii% reached home in safety, and found all well before toe. Deo gloria" * \ / ^ Annually,. fb4a long series of years, he visited •Edinburgh and Glasgow on communion occasiona The follbwing joui^al of a visit in 1837 furnishes a specimen of his lab^iirs at such times :— \ •' Left home for G^go[|r/ where I was engaged to assist at the communioin, on Monday afternoon. October 23. Stopped lat Inverness that night Next morning went by tlie mail to Ptejfth. Arrived there at^eleven at night. Started, next morning for Glasgow. Arrived there by four p.m. Took up my quarters at H. Ma^kay's, who met me on stepping out of the coach. • " Thursday, Oct 26.— This being the fast for the communion, preached in the forenoon in Hope Street Gaelic Church — Mr. M'Neil, minister— from Matt. ix. 1 3. Afternoon and evening in Mr. Duncan's church, a new erection called lililton Church. The congre- gation, considering the infant state of the church, was pretty numerous and respectable. Ah! did they know John Duncan's value, the numbers would soon increase and the house be crowded; but no! Text in the afternoon, Ps. cxxxviil 3; evening, Kom. iii. 22. '*yriday, Oct. 27. — Made some calls in the fore- noon. Afliong others, visited Mrs. Mackay, late of Reay, apparently on her deathbed. Her soul, I trust, is in a hopeful state. In the evening preached -^^ JOURNAL. fpund 219 \ . u* Milfcon Church from Isa.lv. 1. Enjoyed much liberty. A number of the Lord s people present. It 18 well to be among them—" The Lord is in the con% gregation of His saints:" *' Saturday, Oct 28.— Preached in Mr Dun- ^ can's church from John vii. 17. Considerable 1 freedom. ^ ''Monday, Oct. 30.— Yesterday, attended the communion in Mr. Duncan's church. His action sermon was masterly. After serving some tables, I preached in the evening from Phil. iii. 10, *' The power of Christ's resurrection." This day, preached in the forenoon in Mr. M'Neil'^ church; Rom. viii. 3, 4. Afternoon in Mr. Duncan'i from John xv. s] " Without me, ye can do nothipg." "Tuesday, Oct. 31.— This inoming breakfasted with the M'Donalds in Duke Street— a very kind and agreeable family— several other friends were present. Enjoyed the society much, and had a sw«et season at family worship. Spent the forenoon in finishing some calls whiqh I was under promise to make. ' Found the friends on whom I called very kind and truly Christian friends. Mr. Brown, on whom I called, was peculiarly kind. In the evening dined | at Mr. A. Mackay's — son-in-law of Mr. Hugh Mackay. A large party of Christian friends present A lecture after tea. After arriving at my. good*' quarters, retired to my room, where I eiijoyed some^ * comfort after the bustle of the day. It is well when I , ' rfi M*" , * «ai,jiuMi^.a,. » £i »,'■ "l, fcmtu •• ii JkilJj ti V*:. £20 EDINBUBGH COMMUNION. f ! t U i I ".»l society disposes for retirement, and retirement fits for society., • « ... . '* Wedneadcfy, Nov. 1.— Left Glasgow this after- noon at four, my sister-in-law being along with me, and arrived, here at a little past nine. Took tip my bed in the hotel, it being too late to go to a private familjrr . CaUed at Mra. Dr. Campbell's, with whom I usually lodge, but found to my regret^ that she was so pearly that I deemed it advisable not to put up there; so I resolved, in the course of the day, to take up my quartets elsewhere. *' Friday, Nov. 3.--Took ujp my lodgings at Mr. M'Leod's, the new minister 6^, the Gaelic church, there being a spare room in the touse. No. 4 What ton Place, and have the pr<)8pect <4 being very com- fortably accommodated Yesterday being the fast before the communion, preached in the forenoon from Rom. v, 20, and in the evening, in English, a crowded house, from Eph. ii. 1. Mr. M'L^^i^d preached in the afternoon, a sensible, pious discou He seems to take well with the people, which is small comfort^ and promises well for usefulness. This* evening, attended the fellowship meeting, at whfch I was made to preside. Was pleased that, wljiie the fathers are not, some seem to be growing up! fill their place& - • . ~ • "Monday, Nov. 6.— On Saturday, preached .. Rom. v. 20-^continuation of Thureday's subject. Yesterday, having to presicje at the communi ■K ^ ^ I JOURNAL. nt fits, for lis after- mth me, k tip in^'^ I. private \h whom that she t to put 5 day, to I at Mr. church, fc Whal- !iy com- bhe fast 221 to auD] )n. preached the action sermon from Tsa. liii. 12, « He hath poured out His soul unto death: In the even- ing, Mr. M'Leod preached, from 1 Pet. v. 8, a rousing and experimental discourse, ratliei^desultor^ in some parts. This day, I preached frdm Rom. v. 21. Felt much fi^edom, and I trust ^ome impressions were made. Thus t^e solemn work has been got comfortably through; I hope not without some signs of the Divine presence. The praise be ascribed to the Lord ! " Wednesday, Nov. 8.— Preached last evening, in English, Mcording to custom, to a crowded audiS'ce Was requited by some of the hearers to pubHsh the discourse, which I could not well promise to do Made some ca%^this forenoon, and attended a prayer-meeting mme Gaelic church in the evening, appointed in view of Mr. M'Leod's settlement^ which is to take place on Friday I am strongly urged to remain to witness the settlement, and to introduce Mr. M*Leod on the Sabbath to his new congregation. .. Though rather inconvenient, I have agreed to do soi *^ and the more readily tlyit I have got a good, supply at home in the minister of Tain. ''Saturday, Nov. ll.~Spent Thureday chiefly in visiting old friends and some sick people; among others, Mra Dr. CampbeU, whom I did not see, and Mrs. Ross, who is, to aU appearance, drawing near her end. I hope she is prepared for the change. Yester- day, Mr. M'Leod's induction took place. An excel- li M m i! ,j ; 1 Iff, 1'? i :!: > 222 SETMONS AND VISITS il. lent sermon waa preached on the occasion by Mr. Bennie of Lady Tester's Church. The utmost har- mony prevailed, and the people received their new pastor at the church door, with the greatest cordiality. Tlje scene was truly pleasing. This day, spent principally in my room, having the whole |york of to-morrow before me. . The Lord stre^gtlien me for it! . t *'Tvs8daif, Fov. 14.— Preached on Sabbath, in the forenoon, from Ps. xxvii. 4, and in the. afternoon, from 1 Cor. xv. 10. In the evening in English, to a house crowded to suffocation, from Gal. ii. 16. Had much freedom during the ^hok day, and in the evening, not less. My services being now at an end here and in Gksgow, the Lord bless to my hearew in both places what they have heard, ^tod I trust He wiU bless it to some, and that \Hm Word shall not return rnito Him void. Yesterday, bWkfasted with Misses Mackenzie, Seaforth. Enjoyed an hour or two spent with the good ladies and Mr. Moody, wlio was present, a most excellent young clergyman. To-day, after a trip to Portobello to see Mr. Rose, spent the afternoon in packing up for the journey. Intend to take Dundee on my way and see dear Mr. Kirkaldy after his late trial I must also, it seems, visit Glenlyon, that dear spot, doubly endeared to me now, before I get home; and Mr. Campbell, Inverness, having agreed to preach for me, on con- dition that I should v i s i t h i s o l d fl ( >flk, Ipava s m o ao - W' . GfSp*''" by Mr. osfc Ijar- eir new rdiality. ', spent ivork of ien me }ath, in ^rnoon, Snglish, . ii. 16. 1 in the an end heareiti I trust d sliall ikfasted tn hour Moody, gyman. r. Ro.se» ourney. !e dear also, it ideared mpbell, m con- nne4iO— DUNDEE AND GLENLYOir. 223 far at liberty to do so. The Lord be my light and salvation I , ^ © "Dundee, Wednesday evening, Ifov. 15— -Ar- rived here from Edinburgh at four p.m. Good Mr Kirkaldy met me on the shore with his girr and brought me to his own house, a mUe out of town where he had a party,of Christian friends in waiting to jom me at dinner/ At seven o'clock t preached in Mr.^Reid's church to a congregation of about a thousand, assembled by previous intimation. Aft^r sermon we returned to his house, and had scarcely time to draw our breath when a houseful of people attended for lecture. I did not feel' fatigued afters the whole was over. Blessed be the Lord ' Hia yoke is easy! Mr. Kjrkaldy's trials, and especially his late sore ber^vement in. the loss of his son, have evidently been sanctified to him; and he is blessed with a partner who shares in his joys and sorrows. ' Ihey are truly a blessed couple I "Thursday, Nov. 16.— After two or three calls made this forenoon in Dundee, Mr. Kirkaldy acconi- panied me in his own gig to Perth, from whence I took the coMh to Dunkeld, where I stop for the night '•Glenlyon UkSBE, , Saturday, iVbi;., 18.—Mr uncan CampbeU, my son-in-kw, having met mo Mterday morning at Dunkeld with his gig, we frrived here about seven last evening; found all Veil before us, and happy, even to the dog, to re- Q've u^ . ^ , . . ' . ""'^ V / "^^v. ■ \ ' 1 lili I 114 IP" t s^ 224, BY THE WAY. t "Tuesday, UTov. 21. —Sabbath last, pifeacbed in the church here the wholS day, and in- the evening at six. The congregation pretty large, notwith- standing/>the-stonny state of the Weather. Several from the Lawers side had crossed the hiU. *Here I felt at home, and found it not difficult t0||>reach. Many of the hearers seemed melted under jif^ word. Preached again this day to a considerable^ocfa^ga- tion— numbers in teara The manse crowded every night for attending family worship and lecture. " Dalnacabdqch Inn, Friday, iTau. 24.~Yester- ^?y morning I left Glenlyon nwAse. Mr. Dunban (^mpbell accompanied me in hisJ^tFii^'g; and after preaching at Fortingall and dining with Mr. Mac- donald, the minister, we got in the evening, aS far as Tummel Bridge. The day remarkably stormy. Notwithstanding, the church of Fortingall "was crowded to excess. Several of the Glenlyon and Lochtayside people attended, some from the distance of ten, twelve, and fifteen miles; so strong is the desire of the poor people to hear the word ! Tliis day, my friend and I arrived here about ten A-BL, and after resting an hour or two, Mr.*Duncan Campbell returned home. Here, having no other mode of conveyaA^, I remain to wait the mail which passes for the nd^ at two o'clock in the morning, and in the mean tW ipl my snug pariour, employ myself in preparationMoir the Sabbath." During a tou)\|to jBadenoch ani Glenlyon, tidings tVt^- m jj ^^ ^H , Jt. ;j„JU^-M- ,inmW»i > l.m. ; i i i u iii ,»«.-.»■., .fc—ij. " 'I|'l t ' l i l.mi l i, » I mff. BADENOCH AND OLKNLYON.' ' "225 reached him of the awakenings at Kilsyth and Dundee. The Lord seemed to him to be giving days of His right hand again to.Scotland; and he wuld not keep away from the scene of His work He visits both these places and preaches incessantly ' while there. ' In the following e^^tracts from his journals are his impressions of what he witnessed ' on that remarkable occasion : » - 1 Ll^ ^""^^ a«K>mpamed by Simon, my son. On the \mAuguBt, Wednesday. P^i^ched on Thureday ^Moy, being the fast there before the communion ^ Proceeded on Friday td Kingussie, to assist at the comi^miion thera \ Preached on Saturday in English and afterwards in da^lic, at the tent; on Sabbath and Monday also in Gaelja **20.— On Tuesday started for Glenlyonf to attend the communion there. Arrived,on Wednesday fore- noon. Preached in Glenlyon, Thursday. Frfday evenmg, taid Saturday in Gaelic. Th^-^ w^ present here of a truth. Some i^mains of the wj^p- mgs of old to be seen, and, I trust, some fresW in- stances. Glenlyon stiU a highly favoured /spot Ijong may it continue so I / " 27^0n Tuesday 8tari;ed again for Eadeno5i, to assist at the Kothiemurchus communion on the Lst S^tember. Arrived Tuesday night at DalwhuT^e. ««M5hed, Wednesday, at Alvie; Thursday, Satifrday Sabbath, and Monday at Kothiemurchus. AUm- fortable season, deep attention i om u 228 \i k ,hr !i ■.•^' RILBTTH. of awake^ing to .ISe seea After tbis, my onginal purpose -was tectum home, bufc a pressing applica- tion from Kilsytn, and ^another fronti Dundee, to witness and assist at a work of revival, which, it was said, had commenced at each of these places, obliged me to steer my course. for Kilsyth, and after- wards for Dundee. Accordingly,- 1 returaed . by Glenlyon jj^pt. 4), where I arrived o^ Wednesday forenoon, and set off the same day for Loch Lomood, Mr. Duncan Campbell accompanying me. Passed that night most comfortably at Mr. Samuel M'Laren'i^^ St. Fillans. Owing to the rainy state of the weather, we got to Loch Lomond but oh Friday foi^noon. We reached Glasgow that evening, and Kiliyth on Saturday afternoon. Here I feltt aa on hallowed ground, and as if an uncommon influence from above had lights wpoi^ met The town, containing up- wards of two thousand, in perfect stillness; and groups of people liere alld there standing together and talk- ing of the one thing needful The sight was truly solemn, and filled me with awe. " On arriving at Ibhe manae, Mr* Bums, the ^eigy- man, felt happy to see me, and set me instantly to work. In the evening I bad to addms a crowded audience in his church from John iii 26. AU was stillness and deep Attentbn — mapy in tear^^— -chil-r dren of eight and ten among the rest In short, a general impression from above W^m evidently on the congregation. . V j( -jt rirt- !■ 'v^--* i'W!^S'^y?^'TOU>J->>fc»«aJM-.^S.'. »■- »-i#- V KILSYTH. 227 « ^ .^ 8JaM' y u *":> .»■;-,, _;A^„L..„'^«^ .■'f -^ * ^ ^^^ i * I <.-v;> .# 11" 'f f'm- ! 228 KILSYTH AND EDINBUROH. I. i.i i : i •• 'i " Tuesday, 10. — Occupied during the day much as yesterday. In the evening preached at Banton, for- merly a district of the parish, but now a new erection, from Eph. v. 14. Thfe Spirit has been evfdently poured out on the inhabitants of this place. Num- bers were in tears, and children from eight to four- teen years old. After dismissing the peopte, scarcely any would retire; almost all kept their seats, eagerly looking to me. Addressed them for nearly an hour, and then dismissed them all bathed in tears. The scene was truly affecting and interesting ! ^ '* Wednesday, 1 1. — ^Took a trip to Glasgow. *• Thursday, 1 2. — Returned to Kilsyth in the after- noon. Preached there in the evening to a crowded audience from Heb. viil, on the covenant of grace. Many seemed to understand and to feel th^ subject. It told on their faces by tears of joy. ^ "Friday, 13. — Having been urged by young Mr. Bums to visit Dundee, and the congregation of which he had the interim charge there, where, it appeared, the Lord had begun a work of revival, I started this forenoon for Dundee, taking Edinburgh hy the way ; but on ^y arrival in Edinburgh, finding that the| Gaelic congregation were without a pastor, agreed, at their earnest request^ to stay with them over Sabbath. "Monday, 16. — tVeached yesterday in Edinburgh^ forenoon, from Heb. xiii. 22; afternoon, 1 Sam. iii. 1 : evening in English, Eph. v. 14. This day ^ l e ft Ed inburg h at nih6 in the uio ri ^iug b y steam. " «i" DUNDEE. 229 *^ Arrived at Dundee by three. Found Mr. '^JBuW deeply engrossed with the work -of revival Pi:^ked for him in the evening in St. Jeter's chiirch-4iSiai in which he ofSciates-^from De»t xx±ii 39. The house crowded ; and the audienpe exhibited a solemnity and fixedness of attention rarely to be seen, and which evidently indicated an impression from above. There were t^rs to be seen in abun- dance^ and much silent weeping, but nothing audible. The speaker felt much liberty in addressing the people, and a more than iisual awe on his spirit, as if the Almight}' were visibly present "Tuesday, 17. — This forenoon conversed with several individuals, in number about sixteen; about the state of their souls, most of them under deep conviction. A few, however, have obtained comfort. The. work is evidently a work of God. In the eve- ning, being obliged, owing to the crowd, to remove to St. David's, a far larger house, containing upwards of 2000, I preached from Isaiah xlv' 24. The audience, though much more numerous, exhibited the same symptoms of solemnity and deep concern as last night > " Wednesday, 1 8. — Made some forenoon calls; and ' conversed with some who fell in my way in mental distress. The great coTicem is truly the great con- cern with them. I preached in the evening in St. David's, from Acts xvi. 30. 31. The ho use cro wded f ii.fit M w i: .:. <"! J :-i'j 1=4 to excess, hundreds apparently affected. < % ^((i** » ..»i. ■n- 230 DUNDEE AMD PERTH. ri: i; ;' :( ■• H " Thursday, 1 9.-7-Mr. Burns having got a supply for this evening, I took a trip up tp Perth, having bee| requested to preach an evening there. We met in Mr: Stewart's church. Preached from Isaiah Iv. 3, The congregation very attentive, but nothing further to be seen. Was requested, however, by a - deputation sent me to the vestry, to promise another evening there. " Friday, 20 .—Returned to Dundee, and preached in the evening in St. David's to as large a crowd as formerly; and apparently not less under an impres- sion of divine thingsw This day, Mr. W. Burns left me for the Kilsyth communion, and begged that I should continue with his people till his return, which, in their present state, I could iiot but agree to do. " Monday, 23. — On Saturday evening had a prayer meeting with the people in St. David'a The church^ pretty full. Mr. Lewis attended and assisted on the xiccasion. The spirit of prayer was given. . Yester- day, preached forenoon and afternoon in St Peter's from John xvi. 7-14). A deep and solemti attention, much melting and many tears. In.^ the evening preached in St. David's from Isaiah Iv. 1. The house crowded to suffocation — great movement — a season of power indeed. Conversed with sdme In the vestry aft^r sermon. This day met with several who called, under soul distress, (in all, twenty-two) among whom were two girls about nine and a boy of eleven. Had muffh Mfttiftfun^inn i n Annvpraing wlf . l. fhi^m _bi_ ../ ''X , <. {$ & AWAK£NING IN |tOSS-SHIBE. 231 the evening preached in St David's from Ezek. xxxvii. 1, fec."*^ ;? w,*^ *' Tuesday, 24.— Spent the forenoon in conversing with poRpIe, as yesterday. Upwards of twenty called. No unpromising case. In the evening preached in St David's from 1 Cor. ii. 9, 10. Enjoyed much liberty; and deep impressions made on the congre- gatioa. ' , "Wednesday %5. — ^Preached at Perth from Eph. v. 14, to a crowded and an attentive audience, Mr. Ewing, one of the town ministers, having kindly taken my place at Dundee." -y,' Returning home, he began to publish the good news of the Lord's work in Kilsyth and Dundee, and to sound the alarm to those who were at ease in Zion. A movement commenced among the dry bones, under his preaching i(i Tain and Tacbat, on com- munion ootS&sions, and extended to many other places throughout the country. The power of the Bread- albane days came back to his preaching again. Texts from which he had not preached since then were now resumed. Hundreds were now asking for the first time» "What nittdt we do to be saved?" But the Lord's people were complaining that he was withholding their wonted fistre from them. He was so bent on the conversion of sinners, that he laid out all his strength in preaching towards that object Never were more alarming sermons preached than -those- which be th e n delivered; but never, in the r f I m -Ml ^ mi s h • •CHAPTEIl^I. , "" DOHESTIO UFB— KtLEB FOB THE EMPLOTMEMT Or TIME— . ' C0BBE8P0NDENCE WITH BIS SON. , was said, but it- must, have been, by one who was more anxious to speak smartly than to speak tcnly, that Mr. M'Donald was never "from home" but when he was "at home." None would have said so whonad seen him at his own fireside. If he sp^nt but a small portion, of his time afc^iome, it was only because he Ibved his Master better than liis family, and the service of the gospel -Wetter than the comforts of domestic lifa . There was no man who could make homei more plea- sant and was more disposed to do so, and who^could , more enjoy the hp,ppines8 of the family circle. Re- taining still a father's place, he\could be at the same time a companion to his children, making his con- , versation an enjoyment to them, as well as an instruction. He brought all the fresh interest of a student to bear upon the ^chool-work of hmy boya Always punctual, he took an mterest in watching and directing the various clomestic arrahge- men(;B. He kept his eye, when it homeTon the .V ■\. ■.\- v KMPLOYMBNT OF TlMIl 235 management of hi^ temporal affairs^rew out plans for' the in^rovement of his glebe and farm, and kept a reqord di tbeir results, when they were executed. And yet, while interi^sted for the\time in the affairs of home, he could easily relinquish i^with all its cares aiid comforts, when "called to preach the everlasting ^6spel. • ' - The following "rule§ for the employment of time, each day/" he invariably attempted to follow, when at home. A It " Vivia 7 to 9, a.u ^ « 9 to 10, 10 to 3, 3 to 4, „ 4 to 5. „ 6 to 6, „ 6 to 9, „ 9 to 10, „ 10 to 11, „ Uto 7,A,u. '■ '♦ - • Private deTotioi Family 'worship and breakfast. Parijchial duties, study, &c. Dinner. Study. Tea and oonTersation. Private devotion and study. Family worship and supper. Pfivate devotion. Sleep and dressing. That is tb say,^— " For private devotion and stuidy. Meals, family and parochial duties, ) namely, for each,, 4 hours. f landdresung, . . . . y 8 hours. '8 „ 8 24' _8 „ I Tjj^e form of this table, and the modei in which the dky- is divided, are quite cbaracteristia His love of pi^ecision would have made him quite uncomfortable, umess be had discovered, that ^he. had divided the. twenty-four hours into three equal pprtions, and that ■ji ii'- 236 i: I ! J' 1 .l*'j'.: II I ' ■ r' UIS FAMILY. Mr. Macdonald's second marriage took place in 1 ail. A few weeks before, Mr. Findlater, who was weU acquainted with the'Millbank family, and with the chi^cter of Miss Mackenzie, thus refers to his mtended marriage, in a letter to Mr. Macdonald. "^ tav4 to congratukte you in th^ most cordial manner 6n the happy prospect of being united to a Jady of sWh accomplishments and such eminent piety." The feeling thus expressed hy Mr. Findlater waa that with which this marriage was universally regarded. \ He had ten\ children; of whom three were by his first marriage, And six are still alive. ^ Of themaU,Iohn,iiisftstbom, w&hisbestbe- . loved— John thA correct, lively, precocious boy, the ardent scholar, the\^tinguished student, the approved ' convert, the ripe bhristian, the able preacher, the \8uccessful pastor, aAd the devoted missionary. The ^urse of such a soli was one which such a father could watch with Vond and delighted -interest. Pleased with his rapid progress as a boy in school, he waa still more gratified by his eminence in . college; but the joy of joVs to Wm was his son's con- ^ version to God; a chailgA too marked, in his case, to be doubted even by the inost anxious heart. And when he was about to enW on the service of the gospel, with what hopeful interest did his father look tp the prospect before him\ and how often, there- ftuer, did he sit with ravish< in -I' •> LETTEtt TO HIS SON. 237 ^ar, spiritual, powerful preaching. I'd such a ' spn.he could let out hi? hea^rt as to no other. They - <50iTesponded regularly; and ilie father's lettera were carefully preserved. These contain mui^h that is inter- esting and instructive, and exhibit his bwn character more clearly than coul^ be done by descnption. 1 In a letter to his son whije m, the Theological Hall, he writes, — ,> y '"I have sent in your box of books, £ot{;^AV Mehrew Poeaj/, — well worthy the perusal of ft young or old Divine^ — and Edwards :';j: . r- ,.;;. 16 :: ^'~""'"' ■ ■r % ■I • 'iif li . i Ml* I. 4H 1 n K ft 212 LETTER TO HIS SON. p ' leaves room, for the Spirit, if I may say so, to step ' in, when we are delivering our discourses, to warm our hearts and animate our souls; nay, to suggest ideas at the time, which He may bless to souls, and which ^may prove to be the gems of ouf oomposi^ tions. The reading system, I aiit^fraid, has a ten- dency to exclude such divine communicatiwis from our discourses. At the same time you must know * that I am not against writing yout- cUscourses, and writing them out fully and accurately, at least for the first few years of your life in the work. Quite jl, the reverse. The habit of writing them — even fv though you should not deliver exactly what you have committed to paper, or commit fully to memory —will give you a facility of expression in the delivery which is peculiarly desirable. It will also enable you, in the course of time, to attain to a style which must be your vwn, and in the use of which you will feef quite at home. It will, besides, ^terid to give your mind a clear and 'correct view of your subject — to possess which is the great secret of properly conducJted ptilpit services. And, my dear John, make a point in all your discourses of «p mastering them as to see every inch of your ground clear before you. Do not work in the dark. En- ' deavour, too, to feel imj^eaaed with your subject while preparing it. Pray for preparation, and pray over your preparation. "In the pulpit be grave, solemn, and iptiodesU '^ SUITABLE ADVICES. 243 , to step bo warm suggest mis, and pomposi- IS a ten- ms froin st know rses, and least for Quite m— even hat you memory I in the will also ain to a le use of , besides, t view of secret of my dear jes of «p ir ground rk. En- ir subject and pray 1 modesU s W' /Modesty well becomes a young man, and an air of confidence is disgusting, especially at that period of life. Avoid affectation too. Speak natumlly, and let your manner appear to be so too. But, if pos- sible, be serious and affectionate: Show your hearers Hhat you fe^ for them, and love them, and that you seek not theirs, but* them. Exercise «i dependence on God while you speak. Let men and all inferior be lost to you in his Omupresence, in your personal responsibility, and in those eternal realities with which you. and your hearers are inseparably and awfully connected. ^ ■ •• Oh, wtfat wrestlings in prayer, what searchings of the Scriptures, what meditation, what holy walk- ing, ai^ necessary iti order to reach these attainments. May the Lord furnish you with these and every other qualification tor his own work ! " I trust few of the^e hints are necessary for you ; but I have thrown them dowi^at your own request, and' as expressions of a father]^ anxiety and regard." In reply to a letter from his son, giving him an account of his first sermon, an»j. / _ .» ii,. hroken intervals. Make- the best, howev^; of the '"»''*", Lin your Sabbath preparations «"•!? ■» Z^^';^^ i^n/sit up late; remember you ^^^^ ..^ual pW»«onB you wm e^^^ll^^^ I ' felicity an<^«pedition. So you have had pee]^ SU.a The Lorf Witt. I trust, overrule thu. for ,^ bir to yourself «id to yoor congregaUon. But ^Ltef that its flames »>7^^-J-;£ V" ' r*lvarv There take yo»» standi and ^.f " ^ ■ ■ STrnna^which yo» -«" »° ^' "^ ^tli visit ornai ^ aon » sinner exposed to >ts .-rri:tr^'^S:e view of dewing them VJ A few montbs later \f writes:— I ,.3r=ix:r^n^n.th^x ■ ■ ^^n able to be but one Sabb^b >n my own „y shwe of the solemn work at B«»y, I**"". ^»'"' i. ■■ h PCLPIT WO£K AND PAjilPABAWldN. Tain, and TJiray. Next Sabbath the sacrament ia to be dispensed at Dingwall, where a considerable share of the work is assigned to the poor parspn of Urquhart. May the Lord strengthen *me for it! He has certaiinly done so during the incessant*iaboqrs ^ of the w^eks that a^e past; and I*should acknc^W- • ledge this to his praisft But, alas! the ingratitufe insensibility, nay, culanumtinim of this heart of mine under all his favours^ Such a. state of things' with me shdws me what I am* in iSayseLF, Ji^nd Wlat he is, and must be, i&der the designatidh of* thedod » " of grace.* I feel he must !do thri work flwth wfth iae from doing his. work eithier slightly or deceitfiUy — foE^i feel at times — airo it i» a solemn thought--- that I stand for him, when I' stand before riiy felL(e- me^, and that I transad; with felloWmeni, with retoect,' to their eternity. I am hat)py to uhderstand/that- yo" %pl increasing liberty in your ministrationji, and partiJBlariy in your pulpit exercises. Writing yo^ir "discourses fully out, however miich may be skid for the practice — and it has its advantages — Will Iq your case hiave the effefet qi oMif burdening yc/ur pre- parations, and fettering your mind in- the«delivery. In short you ai-e perfectly right (and as 4 niessenger of Christ, it is imperative on you), to adLpt that method which enable s you boat ^o-preaeb ifaer^goapel "> I 'if'' • '% '.n i- -^w -t»r-., ^ f'H^'' ir'jv 1 i Hi/ n a rewcc ; 248 <^AT NOTTINOHIM. t Ul' »l I 'f to advantage, and which you find the Lord coiinte- ^* nance most' for the bene'fit of your hearers. I'am aware you will find few, very few friends, even among the Dissenters, to whom you Can freely un- . bosom your mind; and this is a disadvantage which you feel much in such a 'place^ as, London. There is a sad l^n^g off in all classes of Dissenters, in all that re^rcls vitality in religion, from what their forefathers were — ^Ah qucmtum mviati ab iUia! This, however, will lead you to live more^ in fellow- ship with Jesus ; and next to him with patriarchs, prophets, and apostles, and to be a follower of those who through faith and patiencd inherit tlie pro- mises. ' ■ * ^ "So you have got some drops of mercury into your discourses. 1/ am glad that they are infused by truth, and not bon-owed even from a father. Your father and you are rather- in the extremes in reference to that article. But, inmedio tutissimug' ibis. And you are a field-preacherttb ! Some will say. Where will these things end? Go on, and prosper; and the God of your fathers be with . you!" ' ■■ ■'"--•■ J ^■■i On his way to London he visited Nottingham, and duringhis stay there, was constantly engaged in preach-4 ing. He wrote to his son the following account of ; his reception and labours there, and his impressions of the state of religion in that place. There is a most characteri stic paragraph in this extract, expreB- 1. \ .:. coiinte- . I'^am Is, even eely un- 'jk which There is fi, in all at their b illia! I fellow^ trlarchs, of those ilie pro- ary into infused Bk fslther. remes in lome will on, and be with : \ a lam, and 1 preach- 4 count of pressions iiere is a i, expreB- BfSDFUGH|riN FBBACHINO. 249 sive of his love tfor his wo^ in the service of the gospel:— ^ I . "We were' kjndly recwved by Mr. Smith, a banker in this plko0, VBo, with his wife, l^ady Lucy Melville, from, i^ifeshire, seem' to be Christians ]^(Ji^deed Th^ur house is to be my home while I '^remain here—and I feel at home in it; it is conveni- ently, siluaf«d at the distance of a mile or a mile^ and a half from the if she were pear you, and looking over your shoulder, cast lier eye on this latter clause, would imipediQ,tely ^say, * That is perfectly true.! When you "oeate to* preach we may order your ti^n,' and were I beside her I should say, Amen. If it be the Lord'awill, let me live and die in his work, and not survive my labours or usefulness. I find the peop le, wh^rovpr T \% 'if' 'ti -J t! I \\i ^ -4 L, , m TT 260 ilR. KIBKCALDV. address ttiem, very attentive, and making aJlowanoe for that species of attentiveness. which the first, appearance of a stranger geheraUy produces, o^ . would read in their faces an eagerness to hear, truth. "I understand thatHhe fundamental, aiyi more prominent doctrines of thd«gospel. are kept much m the back ground here by those who profess to preach it, and when brought forward, aie so diluted by the wisdom of words, as to become quite vapid to the immortels who heax it. Oh, I fear it may be said of our modern Englis^Dlssenters, ympared wit^ the ancient race, guari^im mutaii aunt ab ilhs ! ^ I endeavour in my poor homelKWay to set the funda- mentals before the people, and Ihey seem to listen to them, as hitherto almost linheaxd truths. Ihe J.ord bless them for the conversion of some and edification of others.'* i- u The visit to Nottingham was pwing to his being asked by his fiiW Mr. Kirkcaldy, of Dundee, to Accompany him to^be present at his marriage^ For this guileli^ Christian hd had a warm affection. He was one of those men- who have much more \warmth in their hearts than Hght in their heads, but having at the same time aa much of the instinc- tive discernment which attends the spiritual life, bs to know the difference between truth and error, and *to elect tiie spiritually minded as associates from ^ among the many wlio "name the name of Christ. A Nathanael in godly simplidty, he was to aU Chnsts r-.''-- ■.-';■■.■■?■;■ MB. Kirkcaldy's MAttRiAOE. S5i 'servants and followers a Gains in hospitality in his days of prosperity; and. when no longer rich, and no ^stranger to afflictions of various kinds, he showed hy, his habitual cheerfulness that his heart and his treasure wfere in heaven. V Mr. Macdonald giW the following f^using account of the marriage ceremony in ofae of jilk letters from Nottingham:—^ ^ .= \ " I have this day witnessed the knojb' tied bet Mr. Kirkcaldy and his bride, in the^Church of j$ng land f(^rm, of course; and °a form it wy wi^^U. ^ spirit, a body without a souL The/ionest loan would make you smile in repeating thji w^u-ds of the ceremony after the clergyman, by/addmg B[>me qualifying terms of his own, sudi as, 'by the grace of God,* &a; and when he came to th^ words, *irith this body I thee worship,* wl^ch seemed" to lave ;Stuck in his throat, and which,, to salr the least, are very improperly expressed, he added, {in respect and honour;' so, as Bogue said of Scott, hi always added something good of his own. I bad to address a parlodr lecture to the young coupl#«iJthe afternoon, I>dy Lucy smilingly alleging that' the marriage would not be complete without this, j They pro])o«e hearing a sermon to-night in Zioii Qhapel, where I am to preach, by way of being 'Aiifjfcet?,' says M^. Kirkcaldy. , * Churched, foxi meal^says his bride." I replied that from this day her;irOT^ame, she nciust be aware, included the hirh.'*'^ ^ ' >, > !l \ .1 \A i) li \ !m' ■k: i ■w i': iM.ii 252^ LETTBE TO HIS SON. .- ^. ^ The folWW extract W one of hU fetter^ to his BOO. written in 1885, after a eeyere Jlnesa i» inte«sting, as containing a "O*^^*""*!^ ^P^^^'"" ^ :. his opinion «3 to the propriety of ha being bo much fromW, and a statement of his reasons for con- tinning his home missionary labours; and because of the a,»otat whieh he gives of how he was exercised by the affliction with which it pleased the Lord to visit him: — • t . . m^ . .